NEW DELHI: The ram air turbine (RAT) of an Air India Dreamliner deployed on its final approach, seconds before landing at 400 feet, to Birmingham on Saturday. The aircraft landed safely and has been grounded for checks. The RAT — a last-resort emergency power system — was deployed seconds after the ill-fated Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner lifted off from Ahmedabad on June 12.In a statement, AI said: “The operating crew of flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham on Oct 4, 2025, detected deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) of the aircraft during its final approach. All electrical and hydraulic parameters were found normal, and the aircraft performed a safe landing at Birmingham. The aircraft has been grounded for further checks and consequently, AI114 from Birmingham to Delhi has been cancelled and alternative arrangements are being made to accommodate the guests. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew remains top priority.”AI 117 had taken off from Amritsar at 12.52 pm on Oct 4 and landed Birmingham 7.07 pm (all local timings).
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Senior pilots say the RAT deployment happens when the aircraft senses one of these three failures: dual engine failure or complete hydraulic failure or complete electrical failure. “RAT deployment in this case seems to be a system anamoly and prima facie nothing serious. It will not be correct to draw any similarities between Oct 4 RAT deployment on an AI Boeing 787 to the June 12 Ahmedabad RAT deployment on the ill-fated AI 171,” they said.