Air India Grounds Boeing 787 After Fuel Switch Defect, Raising Safety Concerns

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Air India has grounded one of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners after a pilot reported a possible defect in the fuel control switch during engine startup. The incident has raised safety concerns, particularly in light of a similar issue that led to the Ahmedabad crash in June 2025, which killed over 260 people. The pilot noted that the fuel switch appeared to slip out of position if pushed down slightly and did not lock properly. The aircraft, registration VT-ANX, is nine years old and has been grounded for further investigation. This is the second time Air India has inspected its fuel-control switch mechanism on its Boeing 787 and 737 planes since the Ahmedabad crash. The airline had previously declared all planes 'all clear' after a precautionary inspection, but this latest incident has prompted a more thorough investigation. Air India has escalated the matter to Boeing, the manufacturer, for a priority evaluation. Inspections of half the fleet have been completed so far, with no glitches found. The incident has sparked concerns within the pilot community, with Captain CS Randhawa, president of the Federation of Indian Pilots, calling for an immediate investigation into possible electrical faults in Boeing 787 aircraft. The Ahmedabad crash preliminary investigation report highlighted a 2018 advisory by the US Federal Aviation Administration that recommended operators to inspect the locking feature of the fuel cutoff switches. Air India had not carried out the inspections at the time, citing that the advisory was not a mandate. The repeated emergence of issues with the fuel control system on the same aircraft type has raised urgent questions about the thoroughness of checks and the possibility of a new, recurring defect. Passengers and crews deserve unambiguous answers to ensure their safety.