October 6, 2025

The skies shook with alarm on October 4 when Air India's flight from Amritsar to Birmingham suddenly experienced an emergency power situation. The Boeing 787's Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a small but powerful emergency device, deployed automatically at just 500 feet above the ground during the plane’s final approach. While the plane landed safely, this sudden action sent shivers down the spine of everyone connected to Indian aviation. Why all this fuss? Because the RAT usually springs into action only if both engines fail or there is a total electrical or hydraulic system breakdown. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) quickly raised red flags. They told the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a strong letter that the incident is tied to earlier warnings and to the tragic Air India Flight AI 171 crash in June, which killed 260 souls. FIP President G.S. Randhawa revealed a key detail: the plane’s Aircraft Health Monitoring system spotted a fault in a part called the Bus Power Control Unit (BPCU). This crucial unit controls the electrical power system on the aircraft. "The Aircraft Health Monitoring (AHM) system picked up a fault in the Bus Power Control Unit (BPCU), which may have caused the auto-deployment of the RAT," said FIP, which represents over 5,000 pilots. The terrible crash of Air India AI 171 was also linked to electrical problems. The plane’s fuel control switches were mysteriously cut off just seconds after takeoff, and the RAT deployed automatically before the tragedy. Despite this, FIP says the DGCA's investigation only checked the fuel switches and ignored the wider electrical system. This is why the Federation is sounding the alarm loudly. "There have been multiple electrical-related incidents involving Boeing 787s. This calls for an urgent fleet-wide inspection," the FIP warned. They demand that every Boeing 787 aircraft flying in India undergo a thorough checkup to prevent a repeat of this deadly disaster. The crash of AI 171 on June 12 remains one of India’s worst air disasters, killing 241 on board and 19 on the ground after crashing into a medical hostel near Ahmedabad. The ongoing investigation by the Accident Analysis and Investigation Board (AAIB) is looking closely at the electrical and engine system failures. Still, the giant American aircraft maker Boeing has remained silent on this tragic episode, adding to the tension. As the FIP and pilots push for urgent action, the nation watches closely, hoping for safer skies and no more shocking surprises from the mighty Boeing 787 fleet.

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Tags: Boeing 787, Air india crash, Dgca, Fip, Ram air turbine, Aviation safety,