Air India has grounded a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner jet following a report from one of its pilots regarding a possible defect in the aircraft's fuel control switch. In an official statement released on Monday, the airline confirmed that they have informed India's aviation regulator about the issue and prioritized the inspection of the pilot's concerns.
A Boeing spokesperson mentioned, We are in contact with Air India and are supporting their review of this matter. The decision to ground the plane comes against the backdrop of an ongoing investigation into a crash that occurred last June involving an Air India aircraft of the same model, resulting in the loss of 260 lives.
The nature of the issue raised by the pilot has not been disclosed by the airline, nor are there details available about the specific flight in question. However, reports from Reuters and The Times of India suggest that the defect was noted after the aircraft landed in Bengaluru following a flight from London.
Importantly, last year's crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took place shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport in western India. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India is still examining the incident, with a final report expected to be released in the coming months. A preliminary investigation indicated that the plane's engines had shut down due to the fuel switches moving to the 'cut off' position, yet the exact cause remains unclear.
In light of this grounding, India's aviation authority had previously initiated investigations to assess the fuel control switches in Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft operating within the country. Air India had previously checked the switches across its Boeing 787 fleet after a directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and reported no issues, a stance reiterated in their recent statement.
