Air India Dreamliner Grounded After Fuel Switch Shifts From ‘Run’ to ‘Cutoff’

An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been grounded after its left engine fuel control switch failed to remain.

In the ‘run’ position and moved to ‘cutoff’ twice during engine startup, the airline confirmed on Monday. The aircraft, operating flight AI 132 from London Heathrow to Bengaluru, was taken out of service following the pilot’s report.

“We are aware that one of our pilots has reported a possible defect on the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft,” an Air India spokesperson said. “After receiving this information, the aircraft has been grounded and the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) has been involved to examine the issue on a priority basis.”

Boeing said it was supporting Air India’s review of the matter. “We will defer it to the customer. We are in contact with Air India and are supporting their assessment,” a Boeing spokesperson said. The incident has been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation regulator.

Air India said it had previously inspected fuel control switches across its entire Boeing 787 fleet following a DGCA directive and found no anomalies. “Safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority,” the spokesperson added.

Background: fuel switch concerns

The issue comes amid heightened scrutiny of fuel control switches following the July 2025 Air India Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people. A preliminary investigation report into that accident revealed that seconds after takeoff, both engine fuel control switches briefly moved from ‘run’ to ‘cutoff’, cutting off fuel supply and causing the engines to lose power.

Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking the other why the fuel had been cut off, to which the other replied that he had not done so. Investigators noted that the switches were later returned to the ‘run’ position, and both were found set to ‘run’ at the crash site. The report did not specify whether the comments were made by the captain or the first officer.

How fuel control switches work

Fuel control switches regulate the flow of fuel into an aircraft’s engines. They are primarily used to start or shut down engines on the ground, or to manually shut down or restart engines in the event of an in-flight failure.

On the Boeing 787, the two fuel control switches are located below the thrust levers. They are spring-loaded and designed to remain firmly in position. To move a switch from ‘run’ to ‘cutoff’, a pilot must pull the switch upward before shifting it, a mechanism intended to prevent accidental activation.

Aviation experts say it is extremely unlikely for the switches to be moved unintentionally. However, if moved to ‘cutoff’, the effect is immediate, cutting fuel flow and engine power.

Investigators have noted that if fuel switches are returned from ‘cutoff’ to ‘run’ during flight, the aircraft’s engine control system automatically initiates a relight and thrust recovery sequence.

Current status

Air India said the grounded Dreamliner will remain out of service until the issue is fully examined in coordination with Boeing and regulatory authorities.