Indian Civil Aircrafts to carry mandatory travel statutory warning at entrance? Yes, the experts claim it’s a misleading heading. But what’s to be done when a society has turned blind, deaf and speechless when it comes to the Indian Aviation Sector? NewsIP, has also been pointing out for long that, Indian Civil Aviation seems to be in a nosedive. It’s a sad, shocking, sickening, heart sinking realization! There seems to be utter callousness regarding human lives during Air Travel in India. It is apparent that it has all to do with financial considerations rather than safe, speedy travel and connectivity to a variety of different locations. Money is all the Airlines and allied Service providers pine for. Every accident, every disaster, every human misery has become an opportunity to make excuses and a fast buck. Veterans say that Indian Aviation, which has a checkered history, a history nevertheless, is today at a stage, much below, then even fledgling newcomers. The tragic AI 171 disaster is still fresh in everyone’s mind. On June 12, 2025, a total of 279 people, including 241 on board and 38 on ground, died after an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating from Ahmedabad to London crashed soon after takeoff. Initially, what had emanated, was that Fuel Switches were somehow involved. The ubiquitous probe was ordered and some were of opinion that there was a pilot error. This was vociferously opposed by the Pilots Associations. Later in a PIL, the Supreme Court termed- ‘Pilot Error’ Claim in AI 171 Crash “Unfortunate”. The court also asked Centre, DGCA, and AAIB to respond to PIL demanding full investigation into June 12 tragedy. The civil aviation ministry has said all probable causes leading to the Air India plane crash in June last year are being investigated and all efforts are being made to complete the probe in a time-bound manner. Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, also told Rajya Sabha that the AAIB probe is in progress. While the murky waters are yet to be cleared regarding the AI 171 accident, there came the shocking news about a similar incident involving a Fuel Switch on Feb 01, 2026 on the Air India’s London–Bengaluru 787 Flight, AI 132. Who says lightening does not strike twice!
It has been reported in the media that the Flight was ready for departure and the engines were started. The crew having moved the fuel control levers to RUN position, noticed, upon rechecking and by retouching them, the left hand lever jumped to the CUTOFF position. The crew again moved the lever into the RUN position, and subsequently touched it for recheck and again it jumped into CUTOFF. A third attempt was then made, this time the lever remained in the RUN position. The aircraft departed from Heathrow with a delay of about 35 minutes and landed in Bangalore without further incident. After landing in Bangalore on Feb 2nd 2026 it was established, that the left fuel control switch moved without any lock. Air India reported: “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.
This is an incident which bears an uncanny similarity to conditions which afflicted the fatal AI 171 and is enough to run a chill down every Air Passenger’s spine. God forbid, if the Flight Switch was to go to CUTOFF position midflight, indeed an unhappy history would have been repeated. Aviation experts state that a “possible defect” has surfaced again—this time documented on the ground— it suggests that earlier precautionary checks may have missed a systemic mechanical or design flaw. Many Aviators, Passengers and Airline Observers now exclaim – My god, we are still flying these gigantic mass coffins! Do we have no shame? Why are these machines with obvious defects being flown? Boeing, we all know, is a powerful American Company. And despite several alarm flags, from diverse companies, belonging to a host of countries, where these Aircrafts are being flown, the company has brazen its way through. It has refused to accept, if there is indeed, a design flaw. This has led to a crisis of confidence but the hapless passengers have no options, if the Airlines continue to fly and book tickets for these Aircrafts. Temporary halting and Checks are routinely reported as resorted to but there are obviously no guarantees.
Certain sections of passengers are even questioning the wisdom of the Pilot who flew the Aircraft from London- Heathrow to Bangalore even after noticing the faulty switch. They ask was is not having too much faith on the Indian adage of Bhagwan Bharose? Was the Pilot taking a big chance? Ok, did he have any choice? Was it imperative for him to fly once the ticket money had been collected and grounding or delay could prove to be expensive? Does Air Safety ultimately boil down to expenses for Airlines? Are the promises of Safety First a mere slogan to assuage passengers? Why are the DGCA, Pilots Guilds, Opinion makers, Significant others, silent on the decision of the Pilot to continue to fly this particular Aircraft? Is there a case for strict liability & culpability in such a high risk, high stake, high responsibility assignment? Who should be held responsible? Who ultimately clears an Aircraft to fly, if it’s the Ground Maintenance Staff, how come, they did not notice that the Fuel Switch was jumping to CUTOFF? Is one successful attempt out of total three attempts enough to prove airworthiness? What is the protocol for such an instance? Is it the principle that an aberration is to be struggled with many times till it works? Questions abound, but is there anyone to answer? DGCA? Well, experts say none of its members are Aviators; only Fliers! India’s claim to be on the road to becoming a developed nation, gets severely impacted. With no Air Passenger feeling sanguine while flying in India, many would write their obituaries before takeoff. Does anyone in the power circle even have the slightest care about the loss of reputation and credibility? India’s stoicism (‘chalta hai’) will ultimately result in it taking a severe beating in this highly competitive and critical world. It’s undeniably a sad state of affairs.
Like many endeavors of a common man in India, he has very little say in the scheme of things concerning him. Others (all knowing, more capable, authoritative, responsible) are there to take decisions for him. Pleading for fixing responsibility to avoid future repetitions is like asking for the moon. To exercise a person’s human, even fundamental rights, one has to approach other exalted, often inaccessible quarters. Of course, the person has no right to decide, remember- Nemo Judex in Causa Sua?
