Indian carrier Air India has confirmed that the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployment on its flight AI117 from Amritsar International Airport (ATQ) to Birmingham Airport (BHX) on October 4, 2025, was “uncommanded.”
According to the airline, the deployment was neither due to a system fault nor any pilot action. Despite the RAT being extended, all electrical and hydraulic systems remained normal throughout the flight.
The affected aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANO), landed safely at Birmingham Airport, with no further irregularities reported.
Incident Occurred During Final Approach
An Air India spokesperson explained that the flight crew detected the RAT deployment during the final approach into Birmingham.
“All electrical and hydraulic parameters were found normal, and the aircraft performed a safe landing,” the spokesperson said.
Following the incident, the aircraft was grounded for detailed inspection, and the return flight from Birmingham to Amritsar was temporarily cancelled. Air India confirmed that alternative arrangements were made to accommodate affected passengers.
Incident Draws Attention After Previous Dreamliner Crash
The event has drawn attention due to its timing — coming just months after the June 12, 2025 Air India Flight 171 crash near Ahmedabad, where 241 of the 242 people on board were killed in one of India’s worst aviation disasters in decades.
The crash involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (registration VT-ANB) that went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The plane also crashed into a residential area, killing an additional 29 people on the ground.
While the current AI117 RAT deployment incident did not involve any system malfunction or emergency, the fact that both incidents involved Dreamliners has prompted increased scrutiny from aviation safety authorities and Boeing technical teams.
What is a Ram Air Turbine (RAT)?
The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) is a backup power source installed on many modern aircraft, including the Boeing 787. It deploys automatically or manually during a complete loss of electrical or hydraulic power, generating power from the airstream to operate essential flight systems.
In normal operations, RAT deployment is extremely rare and typically indicates a significant in-flight emergency — making this uncommanded activation noteworthy.
Ongoing Investigation
Air India stated that the aircraft will remain grounded until a complete technical investigation is completed. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also launched a probe into the incident. Preliminary findings suggest a possible sensor or software anomaly, but the airline emphasized that passenger safety was never compromised.
Conclusion
The Air India AI117 incident underscores the importance of technical vigilance in modern aircraft operations. Despite the RAT deployment, the crew managed a normal and safe landing, demonstrating strong system redundancy in Boeing’s Dreamliner design.
Investigations are ongoing, and updates are expected as Air India, the DGCA, and Boeing engineers complete their assessment.
