Air India Grounds Boeing 787-8 Following Critical Fuel System Malfunction on London-Bengaluru Route

Intelligence Report: Air India has initiated an immediate grounding and technical investigation of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft following a pilot-reported malfunction of engine fuel switches during a scheduled flight from London to Bengaluru. The incident, which occurred on February 2, 2026, was logged post-landing, indicating the aircraft completed its journey, but the nature of the malfunction raises significant operational and safety concerns. Preliminary analysis suggests a potential failure in the fuel management system's switching mechanism, a critical component for engine operation and fuel balance. While no in-flight emergency was declared, the voluntary grounding reflects a precautionary stance by the airline amid heightened scrutiny of aviation safety protocols. This event warrants close monitoring by regulatory bodies, including India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, given the global fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft. The investigation will focus on determining whether the issue is isolated to this specific airframe or indicative of a broader systemic flaw requiring fleet-wide inspection. Air India's response demonstrates adherence to safety-first protocols, but the incident underscores the ongoing challenges in maintaining complex avionics systems in modern wide-body aircraft.