Air India has grounded a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner after the crew of flight AI132 reported a malfunction in the left engine’s fuel control switch during engine startup at London Heathrow on February 1. The aircraft was withdrawn from service after it arrived in Bengaluru.
The incident has drawn attention due to its similarity to the AI171 crash in Ahmedabad last June, in which both engines’ fuel switches reportedly moved to cutoff shortly after takeoff, killing 260 people. However, aviation experts have cautioned against drawing direct parallels between the two cases without conclusive evidence
Incident details:
The fuel control switch issue was detected during engine startup, not in flight, and was reported by the flight crew as per standard procedure.
Regulatory action:
India’s aviation regulator DGCA has summoned Air India and ordered detailed inspections in coordination with Boeing.
Historical context:
A 2018 FAA bulletin had highlighted potential concerns related to fuel control switches on Boeing 787 aircraft.
Ongoing investigation:
Authorities continue to investigate the AI171 crash, with discussions ongoing over possible technical faults versus human factors.