Air India Investigates Crew Compliance in Boeing Fuel-Switch Incident

• Pilots in London observed the fuel control switch did not stay latched in the 'run' position on two attempts but was stable on a third; they flew to India where a 'glitch' was reported on landing
• Air India's investigation will question why the crew did not report the incident to British authorities in London before departure, yet reported it after landing in India
• Britain's watchdog has requested a 'comprehensive root-cause analysis' and 'preventive action plan' to prevent recurrence across Air India's entire Boeing 787 fleet

Summary

Key Incident: Air India is investigating crew compliance after a Boeing 787 Dreamliner departed London on Sunday with a potential fuel-switch defect and was subsequently grounded upon landing in India.

Technical Details: Pilots in London observed the fuel control switch failed to latch in the 'run' position on two attempts but appeared stable on a third try. Despite this, the crew proceeded with the flight. The pilot later reported a fault upon landing in India, triggering the aircraft's grounding.

Regulatory Response: Britain's aviation authority has given Air India a one-week deadline to submit complete details of all maintenance actions and compliance procedures, or face regulatory action against the airline and its fleet of 33 Boeing 787s. The UK watchdog has requested a "comprehensive root-cause analysis" and "preventive action plan."

Investigation Focus: Sources indicate Air India's internal probe will examine why the crew didn't report the incident to British authorities before takeoff, and why concerns were only raised after landing in India. The airline stated it will follow its "safety investigation protocol and take appropriate action."

Historical Context: Fuel switches were central to a previous Air India Dreamliner crash in Gujarat that killed 260 people, resulting in heightened regulatory scrutiny of the airline. Both Air India and Indian authorities have stated there are no systemic issues with fuel control switches across the carrier's Dreamliner fleet.

Current Status: India's civil aviation authority has not yet responded to inquiries. Air India emphasized that "safety of our passengers and crew remains Air India's highest priority."