Air India Initiates Comprehensive Fleet Inspection for Boeing 787 Dreamliners Following Fuel Control Switch Malfunction
In a significant development concerning aviation safety, Air India has launched a fleet-wide inspection of fuel control switches across its entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. This precautionary measure comes in response to a malfunction reported on a recent flight from London Heathrow to Bengaluru, highlighting the airline's proactive approach to ensuring passenger safety and aircraft reliability.
Incident Triggers Immediate Action
The decision follows an incident earlier this week where a pilot identified a defect in the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft after it landed in Bengaluru. The specific aircraft, which had operated the London–Bengaluru route, was immediately grounded for detailed technical checks. This swift response underscores Air India's commitment to addressing potential safety concerns before they escalate into more serious issues.
Official Communication and Precautionary Measures
Confirming the action, Air India's senior vice president for flight operations, Manish Uppal, communicated to Boeing 787 pilots that the airline had initiated a precautionary re-inspection of the entire Dreamliner fleet. In an internal communication obtained by sources, Uppal stated, "Following the reported defect involving a fuel control switch on one of the B787 aircraft, our engineering team has escalated the matter to Boeing for priority evaluation."
He further elaborated, "In the interim, while we await Boeing's response, our engineers — out of an abundance of caution — have initiated precautionary fleet-wide re-inspection of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) latch to verify normal operations." Uppal also informed pilots that no adverse findings have been reported so far on the aircraft that have already undergone re-inspection, providing some reassurance about the current status of the fleet.
Operational Directives and Fleet Composition
In addition to the inspections, Uppal directed crew members to promptly report any defects noticed during operations and to ensure that all mandatory checks are completed before accepting an aircraft for service. This directive aims to maintain operational integrity and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Currently, Air India operates a total of 33 Boeing 787 aircraft. This fleet includes:
- 26 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners from the legacy Air India fleet
- 7 Boeing 787-9 aircraft, of which six were inducted from Vistara and one is a custom-made plane added to the fleet in January this year
Heightened Scrutiny and Historical Context
The latest inspections occur amid heightened scrutiny of the aircraft's fuel control system. The functioning of the fuel control switch has been under particular focus since a fatal crash involving a Boeing 787-8 last June, which resulted in the tragic loss of 260 lives. The preliminary investigation report into that accident pointed to a possible fuel supply cutoff soon after take-off, making this component a critical area of concern for aviation authorities and airlines worldwide.
It is noteworthy that Air India had carried out similar inspections last year following that tragic crash, indicating a pattern of vigilance in response to global safety incidents. The airline has now assured stakeholders that all necessary precautions are being taken and that the issue has been escalated to Boeing for further technical evaluation, emphasizing a collaborative approach to resolving potential safety issues.
This fleet-wide inspection reflects Air India's dedication to maintaining the highest safety standards and its responsiveness to technical anomalies, ensuring that its Dreamliner fleet remains safe and reliable for passengers traveling on both domestic and international routes.
