Air India’s Boeing 787-8 flight AI-132 faced a critical fuel control switch malfunction, mirroring the deadly AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad last year. The aircraft landed safely, but aviation experts demand an independent probe, citing potential mechanical flaws. Authorities and Air India face calls for urgent transparency and fleet-wide inspections.
Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet is under renewed scrutiny following a serious technical occurrence of the fuel cut-off switch on flight AI-132 from London Heathrow to Bengaluru. The incident has sent shockwaves through the aviation community, as it involves the exact same mechanical failure suspected in the catastrophic AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad last June.
Fuel Switch Malfunction Reported
The cockpit crew of the Boeing 787-8, registered as VT-ANX, reported that the left engine fuel control switch exhibited abnormal behavior during operation on Monday. According to internal sources, the fuel control switch – which regulates the flow of fuel to the engine – bypassed its mechanical lock to remain locked in the run position and moved toward the cutoff position without pilot intervention. The crew managed to stabilise the switch and prevented an uncommanded engine shutdown, continuing to a safe landing in Bengaluru at 11.58am.
Air India Grounds Aircraft
Air India acknowledged the incident and said that the aircraft has been grounded upon landing and is looking into the incident. “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,” said an airline spokesperson.
Echoes AI-171 Crash
This incident directly mimics the final seconds of Air India Flight AI-171, which crashed on June 12 last year, killing all 260 people on board. According to the preliminary investigation report, the switches of the ill-fated AI-171 moved to the cutoff position just 32 seconds after takeoff, despite the ‘lift-and-throw’ safety guard designed to prevent accidental activation. The cockpit voice recorder captured a haunting exchange where one pilot asked, “Why did you cut-off?” to which the other replied, “I didn’t.”