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. However, it was reported that the defect was identified after the plane landed in Bengaluru following a flight from London.
Last year's tragic crash of the London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport in western India. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the crash, and a final report is expected to be released in the coming months.
A preliminary investigation indicated that the plane's engines shut down due to its fuel switches moving from the 'run' to 'cut off' position shortly after departure.
Air India's statement confirmed that the fuel control switches had been inspected on all Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet following a directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, finding no issues.
