On 1 February 2026, Air India flight AI132, operated by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner VT-ANX, departed London Heathrow for Bengaluru despite a troubling technical anomaly during engine start.
The incident, now under investigation by Indian aviation authorities, has reignited concerns about systemic safety oversight and recurring issues with the Boeing 787’s fuel control systems.
Engine Start Anomaly at Heathrow
According to The Aviation Herald, the crew of AI132 encountered a malfunction with the left engine’s fuel control switch during pre-departure procedures.
Upon moving the switch to the RUN position, it unexpectedly reverted to CUTOFF—twice.
Only on the third attempt did the switch remain in RUN, allowing the flight to proceed after a 35-minute delay.
The aircraft landed uneventfully in Bengaluru on 2 February 2026.
Post-flight inspection revealed that the left fuel control switch lacked a locking mechanism, confirming the defect.
Aircraft Background: VT-ANX
VT-ANX is a 9.2-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, built at Everett (PAE) with manufacturer serial number 36295 and line number 511.
Delivered to Air India in January 2017, it features a C18Y238 configuration and is powered by two GE engines.
The aircraft had previously been stored at Mumbai from 6 September 2021 to 14 March 2023, but was listed as active at the time of the incident.
Safety Matters Foundation Response
The Safety Matters Foundation (SMF) issued a press release on 2 February 2026, calling for a transparent investigation into the incident.
SMF emphasized that the malfunction mirrored a known risk previously identified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Safety Alert For Operators SAIB NM-18-33, which warned of fuel control switches on Boeing 787s failing to lock in the RUN position—potentially leading to inadvertent engine shutdown.
Capt. Amit Singh, founder of SMF, stated:
“What makes this event deeply troubling is not only that it happened, but that it occurred after Air India publicly stated it had conducted precautionary checks across its 787 fleet and found no issues.”
The Foundation urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India to disclose inspection findings, re-evaluate prior fleet-wide checks, and ensure flight crews are briefed on FAA advisories.
It also called for a regulatory review to determine whether this was an isolated case or indicative of a broader fleet-wide issue.
The Response from Air India…
Air India acknowledged the pilot’s report and confirmed that VT-ANX was grounded following the incident. The airline stated:
“We are aware that one of our pilots has reported a possible defect on the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft.”
“After receiving this initial information, we have grounded the said aircraft and are involving the OEM to get the pilot’s concerns checked on a priority basis.”
Air India also noted that it had previously conducted checks on all Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet following a DGCA directive, with no issues found.
Context: AI171 Crash and Broader Concerns
The incident comes amid the ongoing investigation into the crash of Air India Flight AI171 on 12 June 2025, which also involved a Boeing 787.
While no direct link has been established, the recurrence of issues with critical flight control systems on the same aircraft type has raised alarm among safety experts.
SMF emphasized that its concern is systemic and procedural, not directed at the operating crew, who were commended for managing the situation professionally and reporting it through proper channels.
Air India Flight AI132: Flight Data and Operational Timeline
Flight AI132 was scheduled to depart London Heathrow at 21:05 GMT and arrive in Bengaluru at 12:20 IST.
Despite the engine start anomaly, the aircraft departed with a delay and landed on time.
Flightradar24 data confirms that VT-ANX operated the flight on 1 February 2026.
Industry Reaction and Public Commentary
The incident has sparked debate within the aviation community.
Implications and Next Steps Following Air India Incident…
This incident underscores the importance of rigorous inspection protocols, transparent reporting, and proactive regulatory oversight.
With the FAA’s prior warnings and the AI171 crash still fresh in memory, aviation stakeholders must ensure that lessons are learned and safety systems evolve.
The DGCA’s findings and Air India’s internal review will be critical in determining whether this was a procedural lapse, a maintenance oversight, or a deeper design flaw.
Meanwhile, the grounding of VT-ANX and renewed scrutiny of the 787 fleet may prompt broader industry action.
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