RAT deployment on plane was 'neither due to a system fault nor pilot action': Air India
Mumbai (PTI): Air India on Friday said conclusions from its preliminary investigations show that the deployment of Ram Air Turbine (RAT) in its Dreamliner aircraft on October 4 was "neither due to a system fault nor pilot action".
RAT, which is usually used in case of engine failures, got deployed in Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft seconds before landing at the Birmingham airport on October 4. The aircraft, which was coming from Amritsar, made a safe landing.
"Based on the conclusions from our preliminary investigations, the deployment of the RAT was neither due to a system fault nor pilot action. The deployment of the RAT was 'uncommanded', consistent with similar occurrences with other airlines in the past, as reported by Boeing," Air India said in a statement on Friday, a week after the incident.
The airline said it had notified the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about the occurrence and has submitted the preliminary report to the regulator in accordance with the prescribed guidelines.
The statement came on a day when the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) urged the civil aviation ministry to ground the airline's entire fleet of Dreamliners, check their electrical systems and also order a DGCA special audit of Air India.
Air India, on October 5, had also issued a statement on the RAT deployment incident.
"On 4 October 2025, the operating crew of flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham, detected the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) of the aircraft during its final approach. The crew had found all electrical and hydraulic parameters to be normal, and the aircraft landed safely at Birmingham Airport.
"At no point during the flight was there any loss of power or control systems. The aircraft was subsequently grounded for further inspections," the airline said in the statement on Friday.
The aircraft was subsequently cleared for service, and it operated from Birmingham to Delhi on October 5, the airline said.
Meanwhile, FIP on Friday said that on October 9, Air India flight AI154 from Vienna to Delhi diverted to Dubai due to major technical issues and on October 4, Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was deployed on AI117 while landing at the Birmingham airport from Amritsar.
Both flights were operated with Boeing 787 planes, also known as Dreamliners.
On June 12, Air India's Dreamliner operating the flight AI171 to London Gatwick crashed soon after take off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
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Bengaluru: Four arrested for housebreaking, threats, extortion; fake PSI among accused
Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.
Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.
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According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.
On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.
Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.
