Air India grounds flight after pilot reports possible defect with fuel control switch of Boeing 787-8 aircraft

AIR India, the Tata Group-owned full-service airline, on Monday, 2 February, said it had grounded one of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft after a pilot reported a possible defect with the fuel control switch, according to an official company response.

An Air India spokesperson, in an official statement, said that after the airline received information about a possible defect on its London Heathrow-Bengaluru flight, it grounded the aircraft and is now involving Boeing to get the concerns checked on a priority basis.

“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 Air India spokesperson said.

Air India informs DGCA

The airline also said that the matter has been relayed to the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

According to Air India's response, it had earlier checked the fuel control switches on all the Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet, as per the DGCA's directive.

“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 top priority,” the spokesperson said.

The company also assured its passengers that the safety of all on board, including the crew, remains its top priority. 

An aviation expert has stated that the event is deeply troubling and raised concerns about precautionary checks on Air India's 787 fleet.

“What makes this event deeply troubling is not only that it happened, but that it occurred after Air India publicly stated it had conducted precautionary checks across its 787 fleet and found no issues,” said Captain Amit Singh, the founder of Safety Matters Foundation, in a press release.

“This discrepancy raises urgent questions: Were the checks thorough? Is this a new, recurring defect? Passengers and crews deserve unambiguous answers,” he said.

The Foundation noted that the incident came against the backdrop of the ongoing investigation into the tragic loss of Air India Flight AI171 on 12 June 2025, which also involved a Boeing 787.

“While no connection is implied, the repeated emergence of issues with a critical flight control system on the same aircraft type demands the highest level of scrutiny,” the Foundation said.

Air India Shanghai–Delhi flights

On Sunday, 1 February, Air India resumed direct Shanghai–Delhi flights after nearly six years, following the suspension of services in early 2020.

Mint reported earlier, quoting an official statement, that the company will operate the route four times weekly with its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, featuring modernised cabins and enhanced onboard services.

Air India's flight number AI352 from Delhi to Shanghai departs at 12:00 hrs and arrives at 20:20 hrs, while the return flight, number AI351 from Shanghai to Delhi, departs at 22:00 hrs and arrives at 0315 hrs the following day, according to the flight schedule.

The report also cited the Consulate General of India in Shanghai, which remains committed to supporting initiatives that enhance connectivity and foster cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, education, and cultural exchange.