Air India will conduct a fresh inspection of fuel control switches (FCS) across its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, sources told HT. The move follows a report from an Air India pilot who flagged a possible defect in the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft after completing a flight from London Heathrow to Bengaluru on Monday.
As a precautionary measure, the airline grounded the aircraft in question immediately after the issue was reported, officials said.
Safety Review Following Pilot Report
The decision to reinspect the fleet underscores Air India’s focus on operational safety and preventive maintenance. While no incident occurred during the flight, the airline has opted for a comprehensive review of the component to rule out any wider concerns.
The Boeing 787-8 involved has been taken out of service pending technical checks.
Fuel Control Switch Under Scrutiny
The fuel control switch has drawn heightened attention following its role in the investigation into the June 12 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, last year. The crash resulted in the loss of 241 of the 242 passengers on board, making it one of the deadliest aviation accidents involving the aircraft type.
Investigators had identified the fuel control switch as a key area of examination during the probe.
Ongoing Monitoring
Air India has not issued a detailed statement on the inspection timeline but is expected to work closely with regulators and aircraft manufacturers as part of the review process. Flight operations using other Dreamliner aircraft are continuing as scheduled, subject to routine safety checks.
