This article summarizes reporting by The Times of India and Saurabh Sinha.

Air India Grounds Dreamliner Following Fuel Control Switch Defect

Air India has grounded one of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners after a pilot reported a potential mechanical defect involving the aircraft’s fuel control switch. The incident occurred on Monday, February 2, 2026, following the arrival of flight AI132 in Bengaluru from London Heathrow.

According to reporting by The Times of India, the aircraft, registered as VT-ANX, was withdrawn from service immediately upon landing. The crew identified an issue where the fuel control switch for the left engine reportedly failed to remain locked in the “RUN” position, slipping instead toward “CUTOFF.” This specific mechanism is critical for maintaining fuel flow to the engines during operation.

Incident Details and Immediate Grounding

Flight AI132, carrying over 250 passengers, landed safely at Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) at approximately 11:54 AM IST. The Times of India reports that the defect was noted by the crew either during post-flight procedures or while preparing the jet for its subsequent leg. Consequently, the airline has notified the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and engaged Boeing to assist with a priority investigation.

In a statement regarding the incident, an Air India spokesperson confirmed the grounding:

“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 [Boeing] to get the pilot’s concerns checked on a priority basis.”

Boeing has also acknowledged the situation, stating they are in contact with the airline to support the review process.

Context: Parallels to Previous Safety Events

This mechanical report has drawn significant industry attention due to its similarity to a fatal accident involving the same airline and aircraft type less than a year ago. As detailed in safety reports surrounding the June 12, 2025 crash of Air India Flight AI171 (VT-ANB) in Ahmedabad, preliminary investigations implicated the fuel control switches in that disaster.

In the 2025 incident, investigators found that the switches for both engines moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” shortly after takeoff, leading to a total loss of thrust. The recurrence of a similar “RUN to CUTOFF” slip on VT-ANX, an aircraft delivered to Air India in January 2014, raises questions regarding the locking mechanisms on the 787 fleet’s throttle quadrant.

AirPro News Analysis

The grounding of VT-ANX represents a critical moment for Air India and Boeing. While the safe conclusion of flight AI132 is a relief, the reported failure mode mimics the exact technical flaw suspected in the tragic loss of AI171. We anticipate that regulators will face immense pressure to determine if this is a systemic wear-and-tear issue affecting aging Dreamliners or a fundamental design vulnerability in the switch’s detent mechanism.

Until the DGCA and Boeing release their findings on VT-ANX, scrutiny on the maintenance protocols for these switches will likely intensify across operators of the 787-8 variant.

Sources: The Times of India