Emergency Turbine Deploys Mid-Descent on Air India Flight to Birmingham

Amritsar/Birmingham: An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham was grounded in the United Kingdom after its emergency Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed mid-descent on Saturday. Despite the technical alert, the aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew were unharmed.

According to Air India, the incident occurred as the flight was on its final approach to Birmingham Airport. “The operating crew of flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham on October 4 detected deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) during its final approach. All electrical and hydraulic parameters were found normal, and the aircraft performed a safe landing at Birmingham,” the airline said in a statement.

The Ram Air Turbine is a small fan-like device that deploys automatically when an aircraft loses electrical or hydraulic power. It uses the oncoming air to generate emergency energy to keep essential systems running. Air India clarified that all systems were functioning normally despite the turbine’s deployment, suggesting a possible technical malfunction rather than a power loss.

As a safety measure, the aircraft was grounded at Birmingham for a detailed inspection. The return flight, AI114 from Birmingham to Delhi, was consequently cancelled. “Alternative arrangements are being made to accommodate the guests. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew remains top priority,” the airline added.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner model has faced scrutiny in recent months. In June this year, a similar aircraft type operating from Ahmedabad was involved in an incident where the RAT deployed after a temporary fuel supply cutoff caused engine shutdowns. The interim investigation in that case found that the system had functioned as designed to provide emergency power.

Saturday’s incident did not result in any injuries or major operational disruptions, but it prompted concern among aviation authorities. The aircraft will remain grounded until engineers complete a thorough inspection. Air India has assured that all necessary checks and procedures are being followed before the aircraft is cleared for service again.