Air India Flight AI 171: Critical Engine Fuel Switch Malfunction Recurrence Raises Systemic Safety Concerns

Intelligence analysis reveals a critical recurrence of engine fuel switch malfunctions aboard Air India flights, with the latest incident occurring on a London-Bengaluru route. This technical failure mirrors the identical malfunction identified as the primary causal factor in the catastrophic AI 171 crash of June 12, 2025. The persistence of this defect across multiple aircraft and operational timelines indicates potential systemic flaws in maintenance protocols, component reliability, or procedural oversight within the carrier's engineering division. Of grave concern is the operational decision-making that permitted the recent flight's departure despite the known technical anomaly, suggesting possible lapses in pre-flight safety verification or risk assessment protocols. This pattern necessitates immediate regulatory scrutiny into Air India's safety management systems, maintenance record-keeping, and adherence to manufacturer service bulletins. The recurrence points toward either inadequate corrective actions following the 2025 investigation or an unidentified, deeper engineering vulnerability within the specific fuel switch assembly. This situation presents a significant risk to aviation safety, demanding urgent intervention by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to audit all affected aircraft, mandate immediate component replacements, and review crew reporting procedures to prevent further incidents.