DGCA Clears Air India Boeing Dreamliner Fuel Switches: Advises Boeing Procedure Amid Safety Scrutiny

On February 1, 2026, Air India Boeing 787-8 (VT-ANX) on Flight AI132 from London Heathrow to Bengaluru faced a fuel control switch glitch during engine start: left switch slipped from 'RUN' to 'CUT OFF' twice but latched on third try. Crew logged it post-landing; plane flew safely.

This echoes June 2025 Ahmedabad crash scrutiny (260 fatalities), where switches moved to cutoff post-takeoff. Air India/Boeing conducted checks; DGCA oversaw recent inspection.

DGCA Findings
Engineering verified switches per Boeing procedure: locking pawl secure under correct force; slippage only from improper perpendicular pressure. Pull-to-unlock force within limits across units. Viral video showed incorrect method.

DGCA deems no safety concern, mandates Boeing procedure training for Air India crew.

Key Highlights

• Switch Checks: Left/right fuel switches satisfactory; no slip under parallel force.
• ​Cause Identified: Improper finger/thumb pressure on angular base causes unintended movement.
• ​Procedure Verified: Boeing-recommended checks on affected/replacement units passed DGCA oversight.
• ​Crew Advisory: Air India to train all on exact fuel cutoff switch operation no fleet-wide recall.

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Sources: Business Standard, Business Today, NDTV, Indian Express.