Air India Inspects Boeing 787 Fuel Control Switches After Reported Defect
Air India has initiated inspections of the fuel control switches on its Boeing 787 planes following a pilot report of a possible defect. The inspection began on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, after a pilot reported an issue on Monday, February 2, 2026.
The airline has grounded the specific aircraft and is involving the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Boeing, to check the pilot's concerns. The matter has also been communicated to the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Details of the Incident
The issue was reported by an Air India pilot on a Boeing 787-8 aircraft (registration VT-ANX) after a flight from London Heathrow to Bengaluru. The pilot noted that the left fuel control switch failed to stay in the 'run' position twice during engine startup and moved to 'cutoff'. The pilot also reported that the switch appeared to slip out of position if pushed down slightly and did not lock properly.
Previous Inspections
Air India had previously checked the fuel control switches on its Boeing 787 fleet after a directive from the DGCA and found no issues. These checks were done following a fatal crash in Ahmedabad in June 2025, where preliminary findings linked the crash to the fuel control switch being turned off. The accident resulted in more than 260 fatalities. After the June 2025 incident, Air India conducted a precautionary inspection of the locking mechanism of the FCS on its planes and declared all planes clear.
Air India's Response
Air India's Senior Vice President for Flight Operations, Manish Uppal, informed Boeing 787 pilots that the airline has started a fleet-wide re-inspection of the aircraft's fuel control switches. According to sources, half of the fleet inspections have been completed, and no issues have been found so far. Air India has escalated the matter to Boeing for a priority evaluation.
Air India has asked its crew to promptly report any defects observed during operations and to ensure all required actions are completed before accepting the aircraft.
Historical Context
In 2018, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an information bulletin regarding the potential disengagement of the switch locking mechanism on certain fuel control switches on Boeing aircraft. The FAA advised airlines to inspect the fuel control switches.
Conclusion
Air India is currently inspecting its Boeing 787 fleet's fuel control switches following a reported defect. The airline has grounded the affected aircraft and is working with Boeing to resolve the issue. Previous inspections were conducted after a fatal crash in June 2025, but no issues were found at that time.
