Birmingham: An Air India flight from Amritsar to Birmingham experienced a mid-air technical alert on Saturday when its emergency power system activated during descent. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as flight AI117, landed safely at Birmingham Airport despite the unexpected deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT).
The incident occurred as the plane was on its final approach. According to Air India, all critical systems — including electrical and hydraulic functions — remained stable and fully operational, allowing the flight to land without any complications.
In a statement, the airline reassured passengers, saying, “The operating crew detected the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine during descent, but all onboard systems functioned normally. The aircraft landed safely, and no issues were reported from the passengers or crew.”
The Ram Air Turbine is a backup system designed to generate power in emergencies, typically when an aircraft loses primary electrical or hydraulic power. Although its deployment is rare and often linked to more serious in-flight issues, the airline confirmed that the activation in this case did not indicate any critical failure.
As a precaution, the aircraft has been grounded in Birmingham for thorough technical inspection. Consequently, the return flight, AI114 to Delhi, was cancelled. Air India said alternative arrangements were being made to accommodate affected passengers.
This is the second notable incident involving the Boeing 787-8 model in recent months. A similar emergency turbine deployment occurred in June during a flight to Ahmedabad, later attributed to a fuel supply issue. Investigations into that case are still ongoing.
Air India reiterated its commitment to passenger safety, emphasizing that preventive checks and maintenance protocols are being followed rigorously to ensure fleet reliability.
