A mid-air scare aboard an Air India Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 flying from Amritsar to Birmingham has revived memories of the tragic AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad earlier this year that claimed 274 lives. The aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT) an emergency device used only during complete engine failure deployed unexpectedly before landing, causing alarm but ending safely.
The latest incident involved the same aircraft model and airline, with the RAT deploying during flight, eerily similar to what occurred moments before the AI 171 crash. In that accident, both engines failed shortly after take-off, causing the turbine to drop automatically.
According to reports, all electrical and hydraulic systems on Saturday’s flight functioned normally, and the aircraft landed safely at Birmingham without any injuries to passengers. Engineers are now investigating how and why the RAT deployed despite no sign of engine failure. The plane has been grounded for detailed inspections.
The RAT, often called an aircraft’s “last lifeline,” provides emergency electrical and hydraulic power when both engines fail. During the fatal AI 171 crash in June, the same device was seen deployed seconds before the aircraft hit the ground. Viral footage from near the crash site captured the RAT extending, followed by a distinct high-pitched whine.
Former US Navy pilot Captain Steve Scheibner, analyzing the video, confirmed the sound was typical of a RAT in operation. “It sounds like a high-pitched prop, like a Cessna going by,” he explained, adding that the system offers little help when an aircraft loses power at very low altitude. The AI 171 was just 625 feet in the air when it crashed.
A preliminary investigation into the Ahmedabad crash revealed a critical fuel supply error. Both engine fuel control switches were reportedly moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within seconds, stopping fuel flow and triggering the RAT deployment sequence a mechanical response to total engine failure.
The weekend’s Dreamliner scare has reignited scrutiny of Air India’s safety protocols as investigators work to determine if a mechanical glitch or procedural error caused the latest RAT activation.
-
-
-
-
