According to reports, Britain's civil aviation authority has requested an explanation from Air India about how a Boeing Dreamliner passenger plane, after being grounded in India for safety inspections, was able to leave London this past Sunday.
UK regulator seeks detailed account
In a letter dated Tuesday, the UK civil aviation authority (CAA) warned of a possible regulatory action against Air India and its Boeing 787 fleet if the airline did not submit a comprehensive response in a week, Reuters reported.
Also Read | UK can 'no longer' rely on US, MPs warn nation must prepare for war
A pilot from Air India reported a fault with a fuel control switch on a Boeing Dreamliner aircraft on February 2 after operating the flight AI132 from London to Bengaluru. The airplane was subsequently grounded for inspection when it arrived at Bengaluru later that same day.
In a statement, the CAA said it is common for a regulator to ask for information after an aircraft incident. This follows safety assurance procedures.
The CAA told Air India it must submit "a detailed account of all maintenance actions performed to ensure the continued airworthiness of the aircraft and to support its release to service for" Bengaluru, Reuters reported.
UK regulator seeks root cause analysis
The UK regulator has also requested a detailed root-cause analysis of the incident. They want a preventive action plan to prevent similar issues across Air India's Boeing 787 fleet, according to the report.
Also Read | Security worries ignored? China's 'super embassy' in London gets green light despite opposition
Air India said in an internal memo on Wednesday that it had checked the fuel switches on all its Boeing 787s, which Flightradar24 reports total 33, and "no issues were found".
Fuel switches played a significant role in last year's crash of an Air India Dreamliner, which killed over 250 people in Gujarat. This incident prompted a closer look at the airline. The switches manage the flow of jet fuel to the aircraft's engines.
