DGCA to oversee US lab testing of Air India 787 fuel switch

Indian aviation regulators will travel to the United States next month to personally oversee laboratory testing of a fuel control switch removed from an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, renewing scrutiny of a critical component linked to a fatal crash last year.

Officials from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are expected to observe the detailed examination at a Boeing facility in Seattle in June. The switch module was removed from an aircraft after pilots operating flight AI132 from London Heathrow to Bengaluru on February 2 reported a potential defect. According to an official release from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the pilot’s report stated the left fuel control switch slipped from the RUN to CUTOFF position when pushed slightly and did not lock positively.

Following the report, the aircraft was grounded. Based on recommendations from the manufacturer, Air India conducted an inspection and functional testing of the switch in the presence of DGCA officers. The review concluded the switch was mechanically functioning as designed and was considered serviceable. Despite this finding, the DGCA later directed that the component undergo further inspection at...