New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on Tuesday initiated a detailed inspection of an Air India Boeing 787 aircraft that was grounded after a pilot reported abnormal behaviour in the fuel control switch (FCS) of one engine, prompting safety checks and a precautionary fleet-wide review by the airline.
The issue was flagged by the aircraft commander of a Boeing 787-8, registered as VT-ANX, after a flight from London to Bengaluru on Monday morning. The pilot recorded the anomaly in the aircraft’s technical log, noting that the left engine’s fuel control switch was slipping from the “RUN” position to “CUT OFF” when pressed lightly and was not locking securely in place.
The aircraft, inducted into Air India’s fleet in 2017, was subsequently grounded as a safety measure. Officials said the affected component will be removed after receiving mandatory approvals from the DGCA and sent to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for a detailed technical examination.
“The fuel control switch will be forwarded to the OEM for in-depth analysis. The aircraft will be cleared for service only after an alternate switch is installed and all inspections are completed,” an official familiar with the matter said.
According to sources, the switch installed on the aircraft had logged around 3,500 flight hours. Industry experts said the expected service life of a fuel control switch can extend up to 20,000 hours, suggesting the component was well within its operational lifespan.
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing said it is in touch with Air India and is supporting the airline in reviewing the issue, though no further updates have been issued so far.
In response to the incident, Air India has ordered a precautionary inspection of the fuel control switch latch across its entire Boeing 787 fleet. In an internal communication to pilots, the airline said the matter had been escalated to Boeing for priority evaluation.
Air India added that inspections carried out so far have not revealed any irregularities. “No adverse findings have been reported on the aircraft for which the re-inspection has been completed,” the airline said.
The DGCA’s inspection and the airline’s fleet-wide checks underline heightened regulatory scrutiny as authorities and operators work to ensure flight safety and prevent any potential risk arising from technical anomalies.
