Unexpected RAT Deployment Raises Concerns, DGCA to Probe Electric Systems of All Boeing 787 Aircraft

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On Monday, an unusual event occurred on an Air India flight that departed from Amritsar to England’s Birmingham Airport. When the aircraft was about to land, an emergency system, Ram Air Turbine (RAT), was triggered automatically. This system is designed to deploy on its own when the aircraft loses power, but the flight wasn't in need of this system.

The technical glitch is raising concerns about the safety of passengers who travel in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has announced that the issue will be thoroughly investigated.

Emergency System Gets Activated Without Requirement

A statement came from Air India after the unexpected RAT system deployment, saying that, “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 aviation company further added, “All electrical and hydraulic parameters were found normal, and the aircraft performed a safe landing at Birmingham.”

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DGCA officials said the following to HT regarding the electrical flaw in Boeing 787 Dreamliner: “The matter requires detailed investigation. An officer from the directorate of sir safety (NR) has been assigned to this investigation.”

Investigation of Boeing 787 Aircraft Operating in India

The Boeing aircraft owned by Air India landed safely at Birmingham Airport in England, despite the flaw in the RAT system. Following this incident, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) urged DGCA to investigate the situation thoroughly, as this could endanger the lives of passengers.

Captain CS Randhawa, in an interview with ANI News, said, "We have written an email to Manish Kumar, who is in charge of air safety in DGCA, and we have marked the copies to DG DGCA, DG AAIB, and the Secretary of Civil Aviation.” He also added, “The incident occurred on the 4th of October on a Boeing 787 aircraft. Registration was Victor Tango Alpha November Oscar (VT-ANO).” 

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While the RAT system is very helpful during emergencies, such as engine failure, it was automatically deployed on the Air India flight without any imminent danger. DGCA has taken notice of the technical glitch in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and is probing into the cause of this fault, hoping to rectify it as early as possible.