'Fuel Engine Got Locked, AI171 crash & AI132 Incident Similar': Safety Measures Foundation Captain Writes to Regulators on Boeing Aircraft

New Delhi: In a startling development, Safety Measures Foundation Captain Amit Singh wrote to airline regulators mentioning that the Air India (AI132) London Heathrow to Bengaluru flight where the fuel engine itself got locked the same way it got to cut off in Air India Flight 171 from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad to London.

This letter has raised alarming questions on precautionary measures and inspections of Boeing 787 fleet.

However, Air India came out with a statement saying that the airline has grounded the aircraft and are involving the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) to get the pilot’s concerns checked on a priority basis, after the AI132 incident.

"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. The matter has been communicated to the aviation regulator, DGCA. Air India had checked the fuel control switches on all Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet after a directive from the DGCA, and had found no issues. At Air India, the safety of our passengers and crew remains top priority,” the airline said in a statement. 

Earlier, the FAS (Foundation of Aviation Safety) had mentioned latent defect” that triggers electrical malfunction leading to fuel switch cut off. The FAS had flagged this issue in the US Senate and put Boeing under scanner. Ed Pierson, a prominent whistleblower in the Boeing case, had mentioned in a hearing on April 17, 2024, that thousands of Boeing planes left facilities without inspection. However, Air India had claimed that there are no issues with their Boeing fleet.

What Happened To The AI 132 Flight

Earlier on Monday, a London–Bengaluru Air India (AI 132) flight was grounded after a pilot reported a possible defect in the plane’s fuel control switch during pre-flight procedures. After the pilot flagged his concerns, Air India took the aircraft out of service as a precautionary measure.

The AI-171 Investigation and Boeing Checks

After the June 12 crash of the Ahmedabad-London Air India Flight AI-171, in response to the the Directorate General of Civil Aviation

In response to the preliminary investigation into the June 12 crash of Air India Flight AI-171, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had issued a directive on July 14, 2025, mandating that all carriers operating Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft should inspect their fuel control switch locking mechanisms by July 21.

This directive came after indications in the crash report suggested that fuel switches had moved to a cutoff position shortly after take-off. 

Air India had reportedly began voluntary inspections on July 12 and completed the mandated fuel control switch checks on all its Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft by July 22, 2025. The airline maintained that it had found no issues with the locking mechanisms.