India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has launched an investigation into the uncommanded deployment of the emergency Ram Air Turbine (RAT) on an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The incident occurred on flight AI117, en route from Amritsar, India, to Birmingham, England, on October 4, 2025.

The RAT, a small, fan-like device, is designed to automatically deploy in situations where an aircraft experiences a loss of power, such as a dual-engine failure, or total electrical or hydraulic failure. When deployed, the RAT uses the wind to generate emergency power, enabling the aircraft to maintain essential systems and ensure a safe landing.

According to Air India, the crew detected the RAT deployment during the aircraft's final approach to Birmingham. Despite the unexpected deployment, all electrical and hydraulic systems functioned normally, and the pilots safely landed the aircraft. Following standard operating procedures, the aircraft was grounded in Birmingham for a thorough inspection. The return leg of the flight, AI114 from Birmingham to Delhi, was subsequently canceled, and alternative arrangements were made for passengers.

Boeing, the manufacturer of the Dreamliner 787-8, conducted maintenance actions in accordance with recommendations for uncommanded RAT deployment and found no discrepancies. Despite Boeing's findings, the DGCA has initiated a detailed probe into the incident. An officer from the Directorate of Air Safety has been assigned to lead the investigation.

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged the DGCA to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the electrical systems of all Boeing 787 aircraft operating in India. In a letter to the DGCA, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the FIP highlighted that the RAT deployed at approximately 500 feet during the approach to Birmingham. The FIP also noted that the Aircraft Health Monitoring (AHM) system detected a fault in the Bus Power Control Unit (BPCU), which may have triggered the deployment. The FIP has pointed out that there have been several incidents involving Boeing 787 electrical systems in India since the aircraft's induction.

This incident comes months after the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad in June, which claimed 260 lives. The RAT had also deployed before that crash, and the interim probe report indicated that a fuel supply cutoff led to engine shutdowns, triggering the emergency mechanism.

The DGCA's air safety department will investigate the matter. Boeing has submitted its report with recommendations, confirming that the aircraft is structurally and functionally acceptable for continued operation, provided all steps are satisfactory.