India's aviation authorities announced that aviation regulators will dispatch a Boeing 787 fuel control switch to the United States for an exhaustive diagnostic inspection. The preventive measure has followed an incident where an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANX) was grounded after a pilot reported a critical technical anomaly.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the aircraft was taken out of service after an entry in the 'Pilot Defect Report' flagged that the left fuel control switch slipped from the 'RUN' position to 'CUTOFF' when pushed lightly, failing to securely hold its positively assigned position.
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As per the official reports, the ministry report said, “On 02.02.2026, M/s Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft VT-ANX, post operation of flight sector AIC-132 (London Heathrow (EGLL) – Bengaluru (VOBL)), was grounded based upon an entry made in the Pilot Defect Report stating that the left Fuel Control Switch (FCS) slips from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” when pushed lightly and does not. lock positively in its selected position.”
The Ministry of Civil Aviation further stated that, based on recommendations from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), the airline carried out an inspection and functional testing of the fuel control switches (FCS), as per media reports.
The procedures were conducted strictly in accordance with OEM-prescribed guidelines and were witnessed firsthand by officers of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure full compliance with safety protocols. The component is to be sent to the manufacturer's facility in the United States for specialized laboratory testing to ensure continued airworthiness, as per Mint .
“When full force was applied parallel to the base plate, the switch remained secure. However, applying external force in an incorrect direction caused the switch to move easily from RUN to CUTOFF, due to the angular base plate allowing slip when pressed improperly with finger or thumb,” the statement added.
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The recent probe into the Boeing 787 fuel control switches follows a heightened focus on fleet safety after last year's tragedy on June 12, when Air India flight AI-171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The devastating crash of the Boeing 787-8 aircraft resulted in 260 fatalities, claiming the lives of 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 individuals on the ground.
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