Air India RAT Deployment Incident: DGCA Seeks Boeing Report, Safety Review Underway

Air India confirms uncommanded RAT deployment on Boeing 787 flight AI-117 on October 4, 2025. DGCA asks Boeing for detailed report and instructs RAT stowage inspections to ensure flight safety.

Air India recently confirmed that the uncommanded deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight AI-117 on October 4, 2025, was neither caused by a system fault nor pilot error. The incident occurred during the aircraft’s landing at Birmingham, when the RAT unexpectedly deployed at an altitude of 400 feet. The pilot reported no abnormalities, and the aircraft landed safely without any operational disruptions. The RAT is a critical emergency device designed to provide backup power during electrical or hydraulic failures, ensuring continued control of the aircraft in emergency situations. Although the event did not compromise safety, it has prompted thorough regulatory and technical scrutiny due to the importance of the system in flight safety.

Following the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) instructed Boeing to submit a detailed report outlining the preventive measures implemented in respect of uncommanded RAT deployments. The report is expected to include global data on similar incidents in the Boeing 787 fleet, any service difficulty reports reported by operators worldwide after Power Conditioning Module (PCM) replacements, and recommendations to avoid recurrence.

The DGCA has also advised Air India to conduct a comprehensive review of RAT stowage on all affected aircraft, particularly those with recently replaced PCM modules. Additionally, Air India has been instructed to re-examine the “D” Check work package—a key maintenance check performed periodically on aircraft—to ensure all procedures related to PCM replacement are correctly implemented. PCM modules supply power to the aircraft’s digital systems, which control critical components including the RAT, making proper maintenance essential.

Boeing has stated that maintenance actions following the uncommanded RAT deployment were completed, and no discrepancies were found. The aircraft was subsequently released for service and returned to Delhi on October 5, 2025. A senior DGCA official confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that preventive measures will be implemented based on the findings to ensure passenger safety and operational reliability. The regulator’s focus on RAT stowage inspection and maintenance checks reflects a proactive approach to prevent any future uncommanded deployments, particularly in aircraft where PCM modules have been recently replaced.

The DGCA’s scrutiny comes in the context of previous safety concerns involving the Boeing 787 aircraft. Earlier this year, an Air India Boeing 787-8 crashed in Ahmedabad, claiming 260 lives, emphasizing the critical importance of rigorous maintenance and regulatory oversight in the aviation sector. The current RAT deployment, though not linked to a malfunction or human error, underscores the need for continuous monitoring and preventive maintenance of emergency systems to maintain safety standards.

Industry experts note that while RAT deployment incidents are rare, comprehensive inspections and timely reporting from manufacturers like Boeing are essential to maintaining public trust in commercial aviation. By requesting global incident data, preventive strategies, and service difficulty reports, the DGCA aims to identify patterns, mitigate risks, and enhance the operational safety of India’s Boeing 787 fleet. For Air India, adherence to these directives, coupled with diligent maintenance of PCM modules and RAT stowage systems, will be crucial in ensuring safe operations and preventing potential emergencies in future flights.

In summary, the uncommanded RAT deployment on Air India flight AI-117 highlights the importance of emergency system reliability, thorough maintenance practices, and stringent regulatory oversight. The DGCA’s actions, combined with Boeing’s technical reporting and Air India’s compliance, reflect a coordinated effort to ensure passenger safety and operational integrity in India’s aviation sector.

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