The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has asked Air India to explain how a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, later grounded in India for safety checks, was allowed to depart London on February 1, 2026, despite concerns over a potentially faulty fuel control switch. The issue has raised fresh questions around aircraft airworthiness and regulatory compliance.
In a letter dated February 3, 2026, the CAA warned Air India that regulatory action could be taken against the airline and its Boeing 787 fleet if a complete response is not submitted within a week. The regulator clarified that such requests are standard procedure following an aircraft incident and form part of routine safety assurance processes.
The matter is particularly sensitive as fuel control switches were central to last year’s Air India Dreamliner crash in Gujarat, which resulted in 260 fatalities and led to heightened scrutiny of the airline. These switches control the flow of fuel into an aircraft’s engines and are critical to safe operations.
Air India confirmed that it had grounded the aircraft after a pilot reported a possible defect with the fuel control switch upon landing in India. The airline said it conducted a precautionary re-inspection of the switches and found no abnormalities, adding that it would respond to the U.K. regulator accordingly.
According to Indian aviation authorities, the flight crew in London observed that the fuel control switch did not remain latched in the ‘run’ position during engine start on two occasions, though it appeared stable on the third attempt. The crew subsequently decided to continue the flight to India, where further checks reportedly showed normal functioning.
Despite these findings, the CAA has sought a detailed account of all maintenance actions carried out before the aircraft was cleared for service, along with a comprehensive root-cause analysis and a preventive action plan. The regulator wants assurances that similar incidents will not recur across Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet, underscoring ongoing global concern around aviation safety and oversight.