Air India on Monday said it had grounded a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, a London–Bengaluru flight, after one of its pilots reported a possible defect in the fuel control switch. The airline said the issue was flagged to Boeing and the aircraft’s original equipment manufacturer is being involved to examine the concern on a priority basis.
In a statement, Air India said the matter has been communicated to the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). It added that following a DGCA directive, fuel control switches on all Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet were inspected, and no issues were found.
Boeing said it is in touch with Air India and is supporting the airline’s review.
"We are in contact with Air India and are supporting their review of this matter," Boeing said in a statement.
The mid-air scare brings back memories of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which was on its way to London, crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel building in Ahmedabad last year within seconds of take-off. The tragedy left 260 people dead, including 241 passengers and crew on board and 19 others on the ground, dead.
According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), both engines of the ill-fated aircraft experienced a momentary recovery after an initial loss of thrust, but ultimately failed to stabilise even after the switches were moved back to "RUN." The crash ultimately led to the deaths of 260 people.
Later, Pushkar Sabharwal, father of late Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, Pilot-in-Command of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed in Ahmedabad in June, killing 260 people, filed a plea seeking a technically sound and independent investigation monitored by a retired Supreme Court judge in the incident.
