Another Air India B787 Dreamliner Faces Mid-Air RAT Deployment; DGCA Orders Safety Probe

Air India, one of India’s leading airlines, is once again under scrutiny after another mid-air technical anomaly — this time involving one of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner jets.

The incident has prompted the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) to demand a thorough inspection of all Boeing 787 aircraft in the country, urging the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to step in. As per the sources.

The issue revolves around the unexpected deployment of the aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT) — a critical emergency component — during the final approach to Birmingham Airport, UK.

Incident Details: RAT Deploys Mid-Descent

The event unfolded on October 4, 2025, when Air India flight AI117, operating from Amritsar (ATQ) to Birmingham (BHX), experienced the automatic deployment of the RAT at approximately 500 feet above ground level during its descent.

Despite the alarming trigger, the Dreamliner landed safely with no injuries reported among passengers or crew. According to the airline, all electrical and hydraulic systems remained fully functional throughout the flight. Air India confirmed that the aircraft has been grounded for detailed technical inspections.

What Is the Ram Air Turbine (RAT)?

The Ram Air Turbine, or RAT, is a small foldable turbine designed to deploy automatically in extreme emergencies — such as dual engine failure or total electrical/hydraulic power loss. Once deployed, it harnesses airflow to generate emergency power that keeps essential flight controls and instruments operational.

However, in this case, the RAT deployed without any such emergency, raising questions about a potential electrical or system fault within the aircraft.

Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) Raises Alarm

In a letter addressed to the DGCA, FIP President Capt. G.S. Randhawa expressed concern over the anomaly and urged the regulator to conduct a comprehensive inspection of all Boeing 787s in Indian fleets.

According to the FIP, Air India’s Aircraft Health Monitoring (AHM) system detected a possible fault in the Bus Power Control Unit (BPCU) — the component responsible for managing the aircraft’s electrical power system. The fault could have triggered the automatic RAT deployment during landing.

Randhawa emphasized that even though the flight landed safely, such malfunctions warrant immediate technical reviews to ensure no underlying safety risks persist across the Dreamliner fleet.

DGCA Steps In

Following the FIP’s appeal, the DGCA has initiated a probe into the incident. The regulator is expected to coordinate with Air India’s engineering team and Boeing’s technical experts to determine whether the RAT deployment was a software, sensor, or hardware malfunction.

The DGCA may also expand the inspection to other Boeing 787 operators in India, ensuring no recurring faults exist within the model’s electrical system.

Air India’s Response

An Air India spokesperson confirmed the safe landing of flight AI117, adding that no passengers or crew were injured, and the aircraft’s main systems remained operational throughout the event.

“The operating crew of flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham on October 4 detected the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine during final approach. The aircraft landed safely and is currently under detailed inspection,” the spokesperson said.

What Lies Ahead

This is not the first time Air India’s Dreamliner operations have come under scrutiny for technical irregularities. The DGCA’s probe will likely focus on whether this was an isolated incident or part of a larger pattern of electrical reliability issues within Boeing’s 787 fleet.

As the investigation unfolds, Air India’s grounded Dreamliner will undergo a complete electrical system check, including detailed analysis of its Bus Power Control Unit, RAT deployment mechanisms, and aircraft software logs.

For now, passengers and crew remain safe — but the incident underscores how even advanced aircraft like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner can present unexpected challenges in real-world operations.

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