Video suggests dual engine failure in Air India AI171 crash

Once deployed, the RAT draws energy from the aircraft’s forward motion. Depending on the type of aircraft, it powers hydraulic systems directly or generates electricity to maintain essential avionics. These include critical instruments like altitude and airspeed displays, flight controls such as ailerons and rudders, navigation tools including GPS, and communication equipment for radio contact.

The RAT can deploy automatically in emergencies; pilots also have manual control over its engagement from the cockpit. A historical example illustrating its importance is US Airways flight 1549—known as the “Miracle on the Hudson”—where after losing both engines due to bird strikes in 2009, the RAT sustained vital systems allowing Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger to safely ditch in the Hudson River with all passengers surviving.

For investigators analyzing AI171's tragic incident, this new video offers an early technical lead by suggesting total power loss—a rare and concerning scenario for such advanced aircraft. With the Cockpit Voice Recorder now recovered from the wreckage, a preliminary report detailing events leading to this tragedy is expected within weeks.