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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday launched an investigation into the unexpected mid-air deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) on an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham. The aircraft landed safely in Birmingham.
The RAT is a small fan-like emergency device that automatically deploys when an aircraft loses power, helping generate electricity during engine failure.
“The matter requires detailed investigation. An officer from the Directorate of Air Safety (NR) has been assigned this investigation,” a DGCA official said.
The incident occurred on Saturday when the RAT deployed during the aircraft’s final approach for landing. “All electrical and hydraulic parameters were found normal, and the aircraft performed a safe landing at Birmingham,” Air India said in a statement.
The aircraft was later grounded for inspection. Following the scare, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) urged the DGCA to conduct a detailed inspection of all Boeing 787 aircraft in India.
“We have written an email to Manish Kumar, who is in charge of air safety at DGCA, and have marked copies to the DG DGCA, DG AAIB, and the Secretary of Civil Aviation. The incident occurred on October 4 on Boeing 787 registration VT-ANO,” Captain C.S. Randhawa told ANI.
According to FIP, all systems on the aircraft were “running properly,” yet the RAT deployed just 500 feet above the ground—a rare occurrence unless the plane experiences engine failure.
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More ShortsThe incident comes months after the fatal June crash of an Air India flight in Ahmedabad that killed 260 people, leaving a British national as the sole survivor.
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