Birmingham: A major aviation scare unfolded on October 4 when Air India’s Amritsar-Birmingham flight AI117 experienced the unexpected deployment of its Ram Air Turbine (RAT) during final approach. Despite the emergency device’s sudden activation, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner landed safely at Birmingham Airport, the airline confirmed on Sunday, October 5.
In a statement, Air India clarified, “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 RAT, a crucial backup system, automatically deploys in cases of dual engine failure or complete electrical or hydraulic malfunction. By harnessing wind energy, it provides essential power for flight controls and instruments.
Following the incident, Air India grounded the aircraft for detailed inspection and cancelled the Birmingham-Delhi return flight. The airline stated that alternative travel arrangements are being made for passengers, though it has not disclosed the number of people affected.
This unsettling episode comes just months after a tragic crash involving another Air India Boeing 787-8. On June 12, flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off, claiming 260 lives, including all 241 passengers and crew.
A preliminary investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the engine fuel control switches of the doomed flight were inadvertently cut off seconds after take-off. While they were later turned back on, one engine failed to regain thrust in time. Boeing has yet to issue a statement on the June disaster, which remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in India’s recent history.
