Air India Dreamliner Emergency Turbine Scare Revives AI 171 Crash Memories

A recent mid-air scare on the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flying from Amritsar to Birmingham has reignited fears linked to the tragic AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad earlier this year, which claimed 274 lives. During the flight, the aircraft’s emergency Ram Air Turbine (RAT) unexpectedly deployed seconds before landing, though the plane touched down safely.

The RAT, a fan-like device located under the aircraft, is designed to provide emergency electrical and hydraulic power in case of a double-engine failure. In this latest incident, all electrical and hydraulic systems were functioning normally, leaving aviation experts puzzled over why the RAT deployed.

The eerily similar circumstances to the AI 171 crash, where the RAT also deployed shortly after takeoff, have raised concerns among passengers and aviation enthusiasts. Video evidence of the AI 171 crash captured from a nearby rooftop showed the RAT deploying, accompanied by a distinctive high-pitched squeal, described by former US Navy pilot Captain Steve Scheibner as sounding like “a Cessna going by.” He noted, “It’s not designed for an airplane that’s at 400 or 500 feet losing all power – there’s no time to restart engines.”

The interim probe report for AI 171 revealed that both engines experienced a fuel supply cutoff, triggering the RAT deployment. Seconds after takeoff, the fuel control switches were shifted from RUN to CUTOFF, with only a one-second interval between them, causing the double-engine shutdown and emergency activation.

While the recent flight landed safely in Birmingham, the aircraft has been grounded for further inspections. Passengers and crew were unharmed, but the scare has highlighted the critical importance of RAT systems and raised questions about potential mechanical or procedural triggers that could inadvertently activate it.

The incident underscores the need for rigorous safety checks on aircraft models that have previously experienced catastrophic failures, even when no immediate danger is detected.