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Air India's Boeing 787 Grounded After Pilot Flags Fuel Switch Defect

Britain's Civil Aviation Authority has formally asked Air India for clarification after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner departed London despite a pilot's concern over a potentially faulty fuel control switch. The aircraft was later grounded upon arrival in India for safety inspections, prompting fleet-wide checks. Air India confirmed the pilot's report and stated it has involved the aircraft manufacturer while prioritizing passenger safety. The incident has led India's pilots' federation to call for an investigation into repeated issues with fuel switches on Boeing 787 aircraft.

Key Points: Air India Boeing 787 Fuel Switch Incident Probed by UK Regulator

  • UK regulator seeks Air India explanation
  • Boeing 787 grounded after pilot report
  • Fleet-wide safety checks completed
  • DGCA clarifies earlier incident cause
  • Pilots' federation calls for investigation
2 min read

UK aviation regulator seeks explanation from Air India over Boeing 787 fuel switch incident

UK aviation authority seeks explanation from Air India after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner with a potential fuel switch fault flew from London to India.

"We are aware that one of our pilots has reported a possible defect... the safety of our passengers and crew remains a top priority. - Air India spokesperson"

London, February 5

Britain's aviation regulator has sought clarification from Air India after a Boeing Dreamliner passenger aircraft departed London despite concerns over a potentially faulty fuel switch and was later grounded in India upon arrival for safety checks.

According to Reuters, the UK Civil Aviation Authority informed the airline in a letter dated February 3 that regulatory action could be initiated against Air India and its Boeing 787 fleet if a complete response is not submitted within a week.

The development comes amid safety checks across Air India's Boeing 787 fleet, with the airline completing inspections of fuel control switches on all its aircraft, sources said on Wednesday, after a pilot flagged a possible defect earlier this week.

An Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft was grounded on Monday after a pilot reported a possible defect in the fuel control switch. An Air India spokesperson confirmed that one of its pilots had flagged the issue and that the matter was communicated to the country's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

"We are aware that one of our pilots has reported a possible defect on the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft. After receiving this initial information, we have grounded the said aircraft and are involving the OEM to get the pilot's concerns checked on a priority basis. The matter has been communicated to the aviation regulator, DGCA. Air India had checked the fuel control switches on all Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet after a directive from the DGCA, and had found no issues. At Air India, the safety of our passengers and crew remains a top priority," the spokesperson said.

Following the incident, Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) President Captain CS Randhawa urged the DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to immediately investigate possible electrical faults in Boeing 787 aircraft, citing repeated incidents involving uncommanded movement of fuel control switches.

Captain Randhawa noted that this was the third known incident in which uncommanded movement of fuel control switches had been recorded on a Boeing 787 aircraft.

On Tuesday, the DGCA issued a rejoinder regarding the purported malfunction of the fuel cut-off switch on Air India's Boeing B787-8 aircraft VT-ANX, which the crew identified on two occasions on January 1. The regulator clarified that an external force was applied in the wrong direction, resulting in the switch from "RUN to CUTOFF".

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
As a frequent flyer with Air India, this news makes me anxious. The UK regulator asking for an explanation doesn't look good for our national carrier's image abroad. Hope they resolve this transparently and quickly.
R
Rahul R
The article says this is the third such incident on a 787? That's a pattern, not a coincidence. Boeing needs to answer for this, not just Air India. Our regulators must be tough with the manufacturer.
S
Sarah B
Respectfully, the DGCA's rejoinder about an "external force applied in the wrong direction" sounds like they're trying to downplay it. If it's a known issue on this model, the focus should be on a permanent fix, not blaming handling.
K
Karthik V
Full marks to the pilot for being vigilant. In our culture, sometimes juniors hesitate to report issues to seniors. This shows a good safety culture where crew priority is safety over hierarchy. Jai Hind.
M
Michael C
The UK CAA giving a one-week deadline is standard procedure. It's good to see international oversight. Hopefully, this leads to better maintenance protocols globally for the 787. Safety is a universal language.

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