An Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft flying from London to Bengaluru was grounded after pilots reported a possible defect in the fuel control switch, prompting the airline to order immediate checks and inform the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

In a statement, Air India acknowledged the issue and said that it has communicated the same to the 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 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.”

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The airline further stated that it 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.

Boeing, which manufactures the aircraft, has also reacted to the incident. Boeing reportedly said that it is in contact with Air India and supporting their review of the matter.

Both fuel control switches cut off before AI plane crash in Ahmedabad, reveals AAIB report

The incident comes months after a deadly crash of the Air India Dreamliner in Ahmedabad in July 2025. A preliminary report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into the crash had revealed that both fuel control switches supplying fuel to the engines of Air India flight 171 were turned off in quick succession, shutting down both the engines, before the plane crashed, killing 260 people.

According to the report findings, one of the pilots can be heard on the cockpit voice recorder, asking the other why he cut off the fuel, to which the other pilot responded by saying that “he did not”.

Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft’s engine fuel control switches transitioned from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ position within three seconds after lift-off, leading to the plane crashing in just 34 seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad on June 12, the AAIB said in its report.