- By Pawan Mishra
- Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:03 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Air India Plane News: Soon after it landed in Bangalore on Monday, Air India Flight 132 (AI 132) was grounded. Problem- the pilot reported a locking management issue with the left fuel switch of the aircraft. As per media reports, the plane took off from Heathrow, London, on Sunday at 9:19 pm and landed today in Bangalore at 11:54 am. The pilot reported that the left fuel switch moved from ‘Run’ to ‘Cutoff’ automatically, and the whole incident was reported to the civil aviation regulator, DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), soon after.
This incident instantly reminds the AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad. But what happened with Air India Flight 132 (AI 132) on Monday sheds new light on the Ahmedabad crash, raises new questions and has the potential of starting a debate afresh.
AI 171 Crash: Initial Probe
Air India flight AI 171 bound for London crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The incident sent shock waves throughout the country. The initial probe by AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) revealed that the fuel supply to both engines of the plane was cut off only after 3 seconds of the liftoff. Pilots issued a ‘MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY’ call after 26 seconds, and roughly 30 seconds from takeoff, the plane turned into rubble and smoke claiming lives of 260 people.
AI 171 Crash: Pilot Or Technical Failure?
Citing the black box findings of the AI 171 crash and sources close to US officials, a Wall Street Journal report suggested that the captain might have cut off the fuel supply to the engine of the plane. The report by AAIB also suggests that the fuel-control switches had moved to the ‘cut off’ position. However, the report fails to assign blame for the incident. Notably, the aircraft involved in the AI 171 crash was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, and the recently grounded aircraft belongs to the same family of planes. Additionally, the reported issue pertains to the fuel control switches, and that is why the probe into this recent incident may prove to be a game-changer for the AI 171 crash, too.
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Boeing 787: Not The First Time
This is not the first time that the issues have been reported for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Several minor and major issues related to the aircraft have been reported across the world. In 2025 alone, five issues related to the Boeing 787-8 were reported globally. The reported issues were related to the engine, flaps, gears, altitude, and loss of cabin pressure.
AI 132 & What Comes Next?
An Air India spokesperson said ‘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. At Air India, safety of our passengers and crew remains top priority. The aircraft manufacturer Boeing says that it is in contact with Air India and supporting the review of the incident.