LONDON / NEW DELHI — Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a formal demand for an explanation from Air India regarding a recent flight involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The UK regulator is investigating how the aircraft was permitted to depart London on Sunday, February 1, 2026, despite a pilot subsequently reporting a fault in a critical fuel control switch—a component that has been under intense global scrutiny.
1. The Incident: A “Potential Fault” Mid-Flight
The controversy centers on Flight AI132, which operated from London to Bengaluru.
- The Fault: After landing in Bengaluru on February 2, a pilot reported a malfunction in the fuel control switch. This switch is vital as it regulates the flow of jet fuel to the aircraft’s engines.
- The Grounding: Air India immediately grounded the aircraft in India for safety checks following the report.
- The UK Concern: The CAA is questioning the airworthiness of the vessel at the time of its departure from London and whether maintenance protocols were bypassed to meet flight schedules.
2. The “Gujarat Crash” Shadow
The sensitivity of this investigation is heightened by the tragic 2025 Air India Dreamliner crash in Gujarat, which resulted in the loss of 250 lives.
- The Link: Preliminary reports from that disaster identified faulty fuel switches as a primary factor in the engine failure that led to the crash.
- The Warning: In a letter dated Tuesday, February 3, the UK CAA warned that a failure to provide a “comprehensive root-cause analysis” within one week could lead to regulatory action against Air India’s entire Boeing 787 fleet.
3. Conflicting Stances: Air India vs. DGCA
There appears to be a disconnect between the airline’s findings and the Indian regulator’s initial assessment.
- Air India’s Defense: The airline claims a “precautionary reinspection” of the fleet found no mechanical issues. An internal memo issued Wednesday stated that all fuel switches across their Dreamliner fleet were checked and cleared.
- DGCA’s Critique: India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suggested that the “apparently correct procedure” was not followed by the crew while operating the switch, shifting the focus from mechanical failure to pilot error or procedural negligence.
4. Key Safety Requirements Demanded by UK CAA
The UK regulator has requested three specific documents from Air India to avoid sanctions:
- Maintenance Logs: A detailed account of all actions taken to ensure the aircraft was airworthy before leaving London.
- Root-Cause Analysis: A technical breakdown of why the switch was reported as faulty in Bengaluru.
- Preventive Action Plan: A strategy to ensure similar “cutoff” issues do not occur across the rest of the Boeing 787 fleet.