The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) warned that Air India could face regulatory action if it does not provide a full explanation within seven days.
Britain’s aviation regulator has asked Air India to explain how one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft was allowed to fly from London to India despite a potentially faulty fuel control switch. The aircraft was later grounded after landing in Bengaluru.
Fuel control switches regulate the flow of fuel to aircraft engines and are considered critical to flight safety. Even minor issues with such components are treated seriously by aviation authorities.
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In a formal letter sent this week, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) warned that Air India could face regulatory action if it does not provide a full explanation within seven days. The regulator said such requests are part of routine safety oversight following aircraft incidents.
In its letter, the CAA asked Air India to submit a detailed account of all maintenance work carried out on the aircraft before it was cleared for the flight. The regulator said the airline must clearly demonstrate how it ensured the aircraft was airworthy before departing London.
Officials also warned that incomplete or delayed responses could lead to enforcement action, potentially affecting parts of Air India’s fleet.
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The issue was first noticed on February 2 during engine start procedures in London after the aircraft completed Flight AI132. A pilot reported that the fuel control switch failed to stay locked in the “run” position on two occasions. On the third attempt, the switch appeared stable, and the flight was allowed to proceed.
After the aircraft arrived in Bengaluru, Air India removed it from service and carried out inspections. The airline said it re-checked the switches as a precaution and found no defects.
In an internal memo issued on Wednesday, Air India said it had inspected fuel switches across all its Dreamliner aircraft and found no irregularities. It added that it would respond to the UK regulator’s queries.
India’s civil aviation regulator also confirmed that the switch issue was detected during engine start checks in London and that the aircraft was grounded after arrival in India for inspection.
Authorities later said that the switches were found to be functioning normally during post-flight checks.
Faulty switch scrutiny due to Ahmedabad crash link
The incident has drawn increased attention because fuel control switches were linked to last year’s Air India Dreamliner crash in Gujarat, which killed 260 people. This has led to heightened scrutiny of similar components across the airline’s fleet.
US aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which builds the 787 Dreamliner, said earlier that it was cooperating with Air India but did not comment further on the latest development.
The UK regulator has also asked Air India to submit a root-cause analysis and a preventive action plan to ensure similar issues do not occur across its Boeing 787 fleet.
Published: 05 Feb 2026, 04:10 pm IST
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