An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI132 from London Heathrow to Bengaluru, encountered a fuel control switch malfunction, prompting serious safety concerns and an ongoing investigation. The incident has sparked debate among aviation experts, particularly in light of the fatal Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad last year, which preliminary investigations suggested involved a similar fuel switch issue.
On February 1, 2026, the Air India flight AI132, using a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (VT-ANX), was preparing for departure from London Heathrow Airport. During the engine start procedure, the crew noticed a problem with the left engine's fuel control switch. According to reports, the switch unexpectedly moved to the "cutoff" position after being moved to the "run" position, and this occurred twice. The switch only remained in the "run" position on the third try, which caused a 35-minute delay for the flight. The aircraft eventually took off at 9:40 PM local time and landed safely in Bengaluru on Monday around noon. There were more than 250 passengers on board the flight.
Following the flight's arrival in Bengaluru, a routine post-flight inspection confirmed the defect: the left fuel control switch lacked a locking mechanism. Air India reported the incident to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and grounded the aircraft to conduct a thorough investigation. The airline has also involved the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Boeing, to check the pilot's concerns on a priority basis.
Air India issued a statement acknowledging the incident, stating that they were aware of the reported defect and were taking necessary steps to address the issue. Boeing has also acknowledged the incident and is supporting Air India in its review of the matter.
The incident has raised concerns because the fuel control switches on the Boeing 787 aircraft require a two-step action to operate: they must be lifted before being moved between the “run” and “cutoff” positions. This safety feature is designed to prevent accidental engine shutdowns. The fact that the switch moved without being lifted suggests a potential malfunction of this critical safety mechanism.
This incident has sparked debate and scrutiny within the aviation community. In light of the Air India AI171 crash in Ahmedabad last June, where a similar fuel switch issue was suspected, there are increasing questions about the safety oversight and the integrity of the fuel control systems in Boeing 787s. The preliminary report of the Ahmedabad crash stated that the fuel control switches moved from "run" to "cutoff" seconds after takeoff, leading to a loss of engine thrust and a subsequent crash that killed 241 of 242 people.
The Safety Matters Foundation (SMF) has called for a transparent investigation into the incident, emphasizing that the malfunction mirrors a known risk previously identified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). According to air safety expert Capt Amit Singh, the incident is particularly concerning because the US aviation regulator cautioned in 2018 that fuel control switches on Boeing 787s could malfunction and lead to inadvertent engine shutdown.
Adding to the concern, is the fact that Air India had previously conducted fleet-wide inspections of fuel control switches on all its Boeing 787 aircraft following a DGCA directive and found no issues. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the inspections and the potential for latent defects.