Air India Dreamliner Glitch Sparks Government Inquiry into Boeing
An emergency power unit activated unexpectedly just before landing, leading Indian regulators to seek answers from the aircraft manufacturer.
NEW DELHI – India’s aviation safety authority has launched an inquiry after an emergency power system on an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner activated without cause during a flight on Saturday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is now seeking more information from the aircraft maker, Boeing.
The incident occurred on a flight from Amritsar, India, to Birmingham, UK. During the final approach to the airport, at a low altitude of about 500 feet, the plane’s emergency power system, known as the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), suddenly deployed.
Air India confirmed that the crew handled the situation and the aircraft landed safely. After a thorough inspection where all electrical and hydraulic systems were found to be normal, the plane was cleared to return to service.
Following the event, the Federation of Indian Pilots has urged the DGCA to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the electrical systems of all Boeing Dreamliners operating in India. The pilots’ union expressed its concerns in an email to aviation ministry officials, highlighting the potential safety risks.
This latest glitch has raised concerns, especially in light of a separate, tragic incident in June when an Air India Boeing 787 crashed, killing 260 people. A preliminary report from that investigation indicated that the plane’s fuel engine switches were moved from “run” to “cutoff” moments after takeoff.
As of now, neither Boeing nor Air India has provided an official comment on the inquiry.
