Air India has grounded a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner jet after one of its pilots reported a possible defect in the aircraft's fuel control switch.
The airline said in a statement on Monday that it had informed India's aviation regulator about the issue and that it was getting the pilot's concerns checked on a 'priority basis'.
We are in contact with Air India and are supporting their review of this matter, a Boeing spokesperson said in response to an email.
The grounding comes amid an ongoing investigation into a plane crash last June involving an Air India aircraft of the same model which killed 260 people.
The airline did not specify the nature of the issue flagged by its pilot or details of the flight. Reports indicate that the defect was identified after the plane landed in Bengaluru following its arrival from London.
Last year's fatal crash of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport. A preliminary investigation suggested that the plane's engines shut down due to fuel switches moving to the 'cut off' position.
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is currently investigating the incident, and a final report is expected in the coming months. A Boeing investigation revealed that fuel control switches were safe, but India's aviation regulator ordered a review of such switches in Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft operating within the country.
Air India has reassured the public that it conducted thorough checks post-directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and found no issues with the locking mechanism of the fuel control switches.
