Dreamliner fuel switch glitch resolved: DGCA

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday said Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which experienced a fuel control switch glitch, safely took off from London on February 1 after a physical check confirmed the switch was secure. The left engine’s fuel control switch on flight AI132 to Bengaluru failed to latch in the “RUN” position twice during engine start at London Heathrow. On the third attempt, it locked correctly, and the crew verified it physically before continuing. DGCA said no abnormal engine parameters, warnings, or system messages were recorded during start or the flight, which carried over 200 passengers and landed without incident. Following the incident, Air India’s engineering team, following Boeing-recommended checks, found both left and right fuel control switches functional. They noted that applying force in the wrong direction could move the switch from “RUN” to “CUT OFF,” but under normal operation, it remained secure. DGCA officers oversaw pull-to-unlock tests, all of which were within limits. An Air India pilot reported the defect after landing in Bengaluru, prompting the airline to ground the aircraft for inspection. The regulator also advised Air India to circulate Boeing’s recommended procedure for operating the fuel “CUT OFF” switch, following a video showing incorrect handling by crew. The functioning of the fuel control switch is under close scrutiny after last June’s Air India Dreamliner crash, which killed 260 people. Preliminary findings suggested the fuel supply was cut off soon after take-off.