An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner experienced an unusual midair emergency when a critical backup power system deployed without command during a flight to the United Kingdom, prompting an investigation by aviation authorities. The aircraft landed safely without injury to passengers or crew, but the incident has intensified scrutiny of the aircraft model following a separate, fatal Air India Dreamliner crash just months prior that killed 260 people.
The event occurred on October 4, 2025, aboard Air India flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham, when the plane’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT) activated during its final approach. This emergency device is designed to deploy automatically only in catastrophic scenarios, such as the failure of both engines or a total loss of electrical and hydraulic power. Its unexpected activation on an otherwise stable flight has alarmed pilots and regulators, triggering a formal probe by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and calls from pilot unions for a fleet-wide inspection of all Boeing 787 aircraft in the country.
Details of the Birmingham Incident
The crew of flight AI117, operating with a Boeing 787-8 aircraft registered as VT-ANO, noticed the RAT had deployed as they were on final approach to Birmingham Airport. The aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 400 to 500 feet, minutes from landing. The RAT is a small propeller-driven turbine that drops from the fuselage and uses the aircraft’s speed through the air to generate emergency power for essential flight controls. Its deployment is a last-resort safety measure and is not intended to occur under normal operating conditions.
In a statement, Air India confirmed the event but stressed that the flight’s systems appeared normal. “The operating crew of flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham on 4 October 2025 detected deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) of the aircraft during its final approach,” the airline stated. “All electrical and hydraulic parameters were found normal, and the aircraft performed a safe landing at Birmingham.” Following the incident, the aircraft was immediately grounded for a thorough technical inspection, which led to the cancellation of the return flight to Delhi. Air India said it was making alternative arrangements for the affected passengers.
Official Investigation Underway
India’s aviation watchdog, the DGCA, has launched a detailed investigation into what it termed an “uncommanded” RAT deployment. A senior DGCA official noted that while the pilots did not report any abnormalities with the plane’s handling or systems, the nature of the event warranted a full probe. As part of the initial response, engineers performed maintenance actions recommended by Boeing for such an incident but reported that no specific discrepancy was found. Despite the aircraft being cleared for service after these initial checks, the DGCA assigned an officer to conduct a more comprehensive inquiry.
The regulator acknowledged that Boeing had previously issued a “Fleet Team Digest” that outlined past cases of similar uncommanded RAT deployments on the 787 model, suggesting this may not be an isolated issue globally. The investigation aims to determine the root cause, whether it stems from a mechanical malfunction, an electrical fault, or a software glitch within the sophisticated systems of the Dreamliner.
Echoes of a Recent Tragedy
The heightened concern over the Birmingham incident is directly linked to the catastrophic crash of another Air India Boeing 787-8 on June 12, 2025. That flight, AI171 from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 241 people on board and 19 on the ground. The preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the aircraft’s fuel control switches were cut off seconds after liftoff, causing both engines to lose power.
Investigators noted cockpit confusion as one pilot asked why the switches were off, but it was too late to recover one of the engines before the fatal crash. While the full investigation is ongoing, reports suggested that the RAT had also deployed on flight AI171 before it crashed, fueling speculation that an underlying electrical or systemic issue could be common to both events. This parallel has put significant pressure on regulators to thoroughly examine the Dreamliner’s safety record and technical reliability.
Pilot Federation Raises Alarm
In response to the uncommanded RAT deployment, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) sent a formal letter to the DGCA, the AAIB, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, urging a comprehensive inspection of the entire Boeing 787 fleet operating in India. The pilots’ body expressed serious concern that the incident could point to a latent technical vulnerability in the aircraft. “There have been numerous incidents on B787 aircraft,” the FIP stated in its letter. “We have strongly taken up with the Civil Aviation Ministry and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to thoroughly check the electrical system of all B787 aircraft in the country.”
The federation criticized the regulatory response following the June crash, claiming the DGCA had only checked the fuel control switches of the Dreamliner fleet rather than conducting a broader review of the plane’s complex systems. One senior pilot with extensive experience told reporters that in a long career, he had never seen or heard of a RAT deploying on an aircraft when all primary systems were functioning normally, underscoring the seriousness of the October 4 event.
Scrutiny on the Dreamliner Platform
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is one of the most technologically advanced commercial aircraft in service, utilizing a high degree of electrical systems, composite materials, and sophisticated software. However, its history has been marked by several high-profile technical issues since its introduction. The uncommanded RAT deployment on the Air India flight adds to a list of concerns that have periodically cast a shadow over the aircraft’s reputation.
While the aircraft landed safely in Birmingham, the incident serves as another data point for investigators and regulators tasked with ensuring the safety of the global fleet. With the deadly AI171 crash still fresh in the minds of the public and aviation professionals, the outcome of the DGCA’s investigation into this latest midair emergency could have significant implications for Air India, Boeing, and the operational procedures for the Dreamliner worldwide. For now, the focus remains on understanding why a critical emergency system activated when there was no apparent emergency.
