Air India Grounds Dreamliner After Fuel Control Switch Slips From ‘Run’ to ‘Cut-off’

New Delhi: In anarrow accidental escape, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner of Air India was grounded after the pilot reported an accidental fault where the aircraft’s left fuel control switch failed twice to remain in the ‘run’ position, instead slipping back to ‘cut-off’ during engine start-up.

According to reports, the incident involved flight AI 132, which had arrived in Bengaluru from London Heathrow on Monday.

An airline spokesperson confirmed the issue, stating that the aircraft was immediately withdrawn from service. “We are aware of a possible defect reported on the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft. “The aircraft has been grounded, and the original equipment manufacturer, Boeing, has been engaged to urgently inspect the matter,” the spokesperson said.

Boeing also acknowledged the report, noting that it is working closely with Air India and “supporting their review of this matter.”

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed of the suspected defect. Air India reiterated that passenger and crew safety remains its highest priority.

The development comes months after the June 2025 Ahmedabad crash, in which an Air India Dreamliner went down shortly after take-off, killing 260 people. In the aftermath, the airline conducted fleet-wide checks of the 787’s fuel control switches and reported no anomalies.

A preliminary investigation into the Ahmedabad crash revealed that both engines briefly lost power seconds after take-off when their fuel control switches transitioned from ‘run’ to ‘cut-off’ one after the other, starving the engines of fuel. The switches later returned to the ‘run’ position before the aircraft crashed.

Fuel control switches that are located beneath the thrust levers basically regulate fuel flow to the engines and are spring-loaded to stay in their selected position. Moving them requires lifting and shifting the switch, making accidental activation unlikely, according to aviation experts. If switched to ‘cut-off,’ the impact on engine thrust is immediate.

Despite this latest incident, Air India says it is treating the matter with utmost seriousness and will await a full technical evaluation before returning the aircraft to service.

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