Air India Boeing 787 aircraft grounded over faulty fuel control switch: ‘Slips from RUN to CUTOFF’

Key points

• Air India Boeing 787-8 was grounded post its London Heathrow to Bengaluru, Karnataka flight in February 2026, over its faulty Fuel Control Switch.
• According to Ministry of Civil Aviation, a flight was grounded after a report in the ‘Pilot Defect Report’ stated that the Fuel Control Switch slipped from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ when it was pushed slightly.
• The report mentioned that the switch also did not lock positively in its selected position.
• The ministry report said, “On 02.02.2026, M/s Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft VT-ANX, post operation of flight sector AIC-132 (London Heathrow (EGLL) – Bengaluru (VOBL), was grounded based upon an entry made in the Pilot Defect Report stating that the left Fuel Control Switch (FCS) slips from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” when pushed slightly and does not lock positively in its selected position.” It further said that based on recommendations from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), the airline carried out...