The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has requested an explanation from Boeing following the uncommanded deployment of a Ram Air Turbine (RAT) on an Air India Boeing 787-8. The incident occurred on flight AI 117, which was traveling from Amritsar to Birmingham, United Kingdom.
According to a report by ANI, the DGCA has also advised Air India to reinspect the RAT stowage across its Boeing 787-8 fleet. The regulator has asked Boeing for a detailed report about the cause of the incident and any preventive measures that can be taken. A senior DGCA official told ANI:
“Boeing has been requested to submit a comprehensive report outlining the preventive measures to be implemented in respect of the uncommanded RAT deployment incident, global data on similar incidents reported in the Boeing 787 fleet, and details of any service difficulty reports from operators worldwide.”
The RAT is designed as an emergency backup system that provides electrical and hydraulic power if primary systems fail. Normally, it should not deploy unless needed, and its activation would be shown on cockpit displays.
Earlier this month, an Air India Boeing 787-8 registered as VT-ANO landed at Birmingham Airport with its RAT deployed. Reports indicate that flight crew were unaware during the flight that this had happened.
Following a fatal crash involving another Air India Dreamliner earlier this year—flight AI 171 in June 2025—crew members have become more vigilant regarding potential malfunctions with these aircraft. Investigators found that both engine fuel control switches were moved to CUTOFF shortly after takeoff on AI 171, shutting down both engines. Cockpit voice recordings revealed confusion among pilots about how or why these switches were set to CUTOFF before being returned to RUN ten seconds later. Other mechanical failures have been ruled out so far.
Air India currently operates 33 Boeing 787s: 26 are -8 variants and seven are -9s. The airline expects delivery of another 20 widebody jets in future years. These aircraft form the core of Air India’s long-haul operations.
In addition, Air India recently began a $400 million retrofit program for its Dreamliner fleet as part of broader cabin modernization efforts. The first upgraded aircraft was sent to a Boeing facility in California in July 2025; another will follow in October with both expected back in service by December. Upgrades for all remaining aircraft are scheduled for completion by mid-2027.
