A significant safety incident unfolded aboard an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying from Amritsar to Birmingham on Saturday, October 4, when the aircraft’s crucial emergency power system, the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), deployed unexpectedly during the final approach.
Flight AI117 landed safely at Birmingham Airport, with the airline confirming on Sunday that all passengers and crew were safe. However, the unexpected activation of the last-resort safety device has led to the aircraft being grounded for a detailed technical inspection, resulting in the cancellation of the return flight.
RAT Deploys During Final Approach
In an official statement, Air India confirmed the incident, emphasizing the safe landing:
“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. All electrical and hydraulic parameters were found normal, and the aircraft performed a safe landing at Birmingham. The aircraft has been grounded for further checks, and consequently, AI114 from Birmingham to Delhi has been cancelled, and alternative arrangements are being made to accommodate the guests. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew remains top priority.”
The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) is a small, propeller-driven device designed to deploy automatically in the event of a catastrophic failure, such as dual engine failure or a complete loss of primary electrical or hydraulic power. It uses the aircraft’s speed and the airflow to generate emergency power for essential flight controls and instruments, acting as a crucial safety backup. The deployment of the RAT, despite the systems reporting as normal, indicates a system anomaly that aviation experts will now investigate.
Incident Follows Fatal 787 Crash
The latest incident has drawn immediate attention within the aviation sector as it involves the same aircraft model, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, that was part of a fatal crash just four months ago.
On June 12, 2025, Air India flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off, killing 260 people. The preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in July revealed that the engine fuel control switches of the ill-fated aircraft were cut off seconds after lift-off, an event that also triggered the RAT’s deployment in that flight.
While the latest deployment incident had a safe outcome, the recurrence of an emergency system activation on the Boeing 787 model adds to the existing safety scrutiny faced by the airline and the aircraft manufacturer. Boeing has yet to issue a statement on the June crash, one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent decades.
Air India is working to provide alternative travel arrangements for passengers affected by the grounding and the subsequent cancellation of the Birmingham-Delhi (AI114) return service.