Air India Grounds 787 Following Pilot’s Fuel Switch Alert

A fresh safety alert involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has drawn attention to fuel system scrutiny, even as broader financial and relief measures linked to last year’s catastrophic crash continue to unfold. The latest development came after a pilot operating flight AI132 from London to Bengaluru reported a suspected defect in a fuel control switch, a critical cockpit component that regulates fuel flow to the engines. The aircraft landed safely, but the airline immediately grounded it and informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while also involving Boeing for technical checks.

The report has gained significance because fuel control switches were also central to preliminary findings in the June 12, 2025 crash of Air India flight AI171 near Ahmedabad. In that accident, one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters 260 people lost their lives when the Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in its initial report, noted that fuel supply to both engines was cut off within a one-second interval, causing cockpit confusion. However, investigators have not concluded whether that resulted from mechanical malfunction, electrical issues, or other factors. Importantly, authorities have not established a direct link between the recent pilot report and the crash, though both involve the same system category.

On the financial front, the losses from the destroyed aircraft were covered through aviation insurance. Global insurers settled hull and engine claims worth roughly $125 million , compensating the airline for the aircraft itself rather than for passenger liabilities. This insurance coverage underscores how commercial aviation risk is structured, where aircraft loss, third-party damage, and passenger compensation are handled under separate frameworks.

Beyond insurance, the humanitarian response has been substantial. The Tata Group , which owns Air India, established the AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust to support families of victims, survivors, and communities affected by the crash. The trust has pledged large-scale assistance, including ex-gratia payments , medical support for the injured, and long-term rehabilitation efforts. It is also helping rebuild infrastructure damaged during the crash, including parts of B.J. Medical College that were struck during the impact and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, regulatory focus remains intense. The DGCA has continued fleet-wide oversight of Dreamliner operations, previously directing inspections of fuel control switches across Air India’s 787 fleet. While no official crash-specific monetary penalty has been publicly confirmed, safety audits and compliance monitoring have tightened across operations.

Together, these developments reflect a dual track in aviation crises: technical investigation and preventive vigilance on one side, and financial plus humanitarian rehabilitation on the other . As engineers examine the latest reported switch concern, the broader probe into AI171 continues with the aviation community watching closely for final conclusions that could shape global safety practices for the Dreamliner fleet.