Emergency Turbine Deploys On UK-Bound Air India Flight; Dreamliner Lands Safely
An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner experienced a significant technical issue on Saturday when its emergency power unit deployed mid-air during its final approach to Birmingham, UK. The incident occurred on flight AI117, operating from Amritsar, but the aircraft landed safely with all passengers and crew unharmed.
The plane has since been grounded for a thorough inspection.Air India confirmed the incident in a statement, explaining that the crew detected the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) during descent. Despite the unusual event, the airline stressed that “all electrical and hydraulic parameters were found normal, and the aircraft performed a safe landing.”
As a precautionary measure, the aircraft has been taken out of service, leading to the cancellation of the return flight, AI114 from Birmingham to Delhi. Air India stated it was making alternative arrangements for the affected passengers and that safety remains its top priority.The Ram Air Turbine is a critical safety device, essentially a small propeller that automatically drops from the fuselage to provide emergency electrical and hydraulic power if an aircraft loses its main engine power. Its deployment is a rare occurrence and typically indicates a significant power loss event.
This incident has drawn attention as it involves the same aircraft model, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which was involved in a crash in Ahmedabad in June of this year. The interim investigation report for that incident had also noted the deployment of the RAT, which was triggered by a fuel supply cutoff that led to the shutdown of the engines. While the cause of the latest incident is under investigation, the deployment of the emergency system on the same aircraft type is likely to be a key focus for safety inspectors.
