Air India Flight's Unexpected RAT Deployment Raises Safety Concerns
An Air India flight from Amritsar to Birmingham, England, recently experienced an unexpected deployment of its Ram Air Turbine (RAT) system mid-air. The incident, which occurred on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, has reignited safety concerns in India following a fatal crash of the same aircraft model in Ahmedabad in June.
The RAT system, a backup generator, is designed to activate in emergencies such as engine power loss or electrical system failure. However, its unexpected deployment on the Air India flight has raised eyebrows. An initial inspection by Air India found no abnormalities in the electrical and hydraulic systems of the plane, which landed safely.
Charanvir Singh Randhawa, president of the Federation of Indian Pilots, has called for a detailed inquiry into the electrical systems of all Boeing 787 Dreamliners operating in India. The federation, representing about 6,000 pilots, has asked the civil aviation regulator to inspect all such aircraft for potential electrical issues. This request comes amidst concerns about the safety of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner following the Ahmedabad crash that killed 260 people. A preliminary report into that incident suggested that the fuel control switches for the engines were moved to the 'cutoff' position, starving the engines of fuel and activating the RAT system.
As of now, neither the Civil Aviation Ministry nor Boeing India has responded to requests for comment. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough investigations and safety checks to maintain public confidence in air travel.
