Incident: India B788 at London and Bangalore on Feb 1st 2026, flew with defective fuel control switch
By Simon Hradecky
An Air India Boeing 787-8, registration VT-ANX performing flight AI-132 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Bangalore (India), was preparing for departure when the crew started the engines. After moving the fuel control levers to the RUN position (where the levers stayed initially) the crew rechecked the switches by touching them, the left hand lever jumped to the CUTOFF position. Again, the crew moved the lever into the RUN position, and subsequently touched it for recheck and again it jumped into CUTOFF. A third attempt was made, this time the lever remained in the RUN position. The aircraft departed Heathrow with a delay of about 35 minutes and landed in Bangalore without further incident. After landing in Bangalore on Feb 2nd 2026 it was established, that the left fuel control switch moved without any lock.
Air India reported: “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 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 Safety Matters Foundation released a press release stating: “The Foundation notes that this incident comes 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 stated when asked why the aircraft departed nonetheless: “The issue is, there is no guidance.”
On Feb 3rd 2026 the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) called for urgent inspections of the electrical systems of all Boeing 787s due to recurring incidents that compromise flight safety. “From day one after the AI-171 crash, we have been insisting that all B-787s be checked for electrical systems. We have gone on record in the media and written letters to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the DGCA that fuel control switches may have moved automatically due to electrical malfunctions of TCMA in the AI-171 crash.” The FIP referenced flight NH-985, see Incident: ANA B788 at Osaka on Jan 17th 2019, both engines rolled back after landing. The FIP further stated: “The B-787-800 is also prone to water seepage/leakage into the main electronic bay of the aircraft, which can cause electrical malfunctions. On June 12, 2025, an Air India flight from Vienna to Delhi was declared AOG on the ground at Vienna due to flooding of the electrical bay. Passengers were deplaned immediately to avoid any accident.”
On Feb 3rd 2026 India’s DGCA reported, that the flight crew observed on two occasions that the fuel control switch did not remain positively latched in the RUN position when light pressure was applied. On the third attempt the switch latched correctly and remained stable, the flight crew physically verified the switch was positively latched in the RUN position. Post flight inspection carried by Boeing’s procedures did not find any anomaly, the switches were serviceable. However, due to its design the switch could move if pressed incorrectly, however, that would not indicate a defect. The DGCA advised Air India to circulate Boeing’s operating procedure for the fuel cut off switches.
