The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is reportedly seeking answers after an incident involving the deployment of a Ram Air Turbine (RAT) on an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft. According to a report by news agency ANI, India’s civil aviation regulator has also advised Air India to reinspect the RAT stowage on its Boeing 787-8 fleet.
As per the report, the American aircraft manufacturer has been asked to submit a comprehensive report regarding the uncommanded RAT deployment on flight AI 117 from Amritsar to Birmingham, United Kingdom.
More About The RAT Incident
Earlier this month, an Air India Boeing 787-8, registered as VT-ANO, landed at Birmingham Airport (BHX) with an unexpected issue that alarmed the crew operating the scheduled flight from Amritsar International Airport (ATQ), India. The aircraft touched down with its RAT deployed, something the flight crew was reportedly unaware of during the flight.
The RAT deployed on flight AI 117 is a backup system designed to provide power in the event of a failure of the aircraft’s primary systems. It supplies essential electrical and hydraulic power, allowing the aircraft to continue flying safely to an airport for repairs before its next departure. Under normal circumstances, the RAT should not deploy when all systems are functioning properly, and its activation would typically be indicated to the flight crew through cockpit displays.
In response to the incident, the DGCA has advised Air India to review its D check procedures (the heaviest maintenance) to ensure that all actions related to the power conditioning module (PCM) were properly implemented, according to a report by ANI. Commenting on the matter, a senior DGCA official told ANI:
“Boeing has been requested to submit a comprehensive report outlining the preventive measures to be implemented in respect of the uncommanded RAT deployment incident, global data on similar incidents reported in the Boeing 787 fleet, and details of any service difficulty reports from operators worldwide.”
Safety Systems Scrutinized After Air India 787-8 Crash
Following the fatal crash of Air India flight AI 171 in June 2025, which resulted in a catastrophic loss of life, Air India’s pilots and cabin crew have become particularly alert to any potential malfunctions aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.
The investigation into what is now the first-ever hull loss involving a Boeing 787-8 remains ongoing, though Indian authorities have already released a preliminary report on the incident. According to the report, both engine fuel control switches on flight AI 171 were moved to the CUTOFF position approximately three seconds after takeoff, causing both engines on the 11-year-old aircraft to shut down.
Cockpit voice recordings captured the pilots expressing confusion over the action. One asked why the switches had been turned to CUTOFF, while the other insisted they had not touched them. The switches were reportedly moved back to RUN about ten seconds after liftoff and were later recovered from the wreckage in the RUN position. Investigators have so far ruled out other mechanical failures. The findings raise questions about how the fuel control switches came to be set to CUTOFF.
More About Air India’s Boeing 787 Fleet
As of now, Air India operates a total of 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, comprising 26 787-8s and seven 787-9s, according to data from ch-aviation. Looking ahead, the Indian flag carrier is expecting the delivery of 20 additional 787-9 widebodies. The 787 fleet serves as the backbone of Air India’s long-haul operations, and complications involving these aircraft pose operational challenges.
Recently, Air India has kicked off a $400 million retrofit program for its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner fleet, marking a significant step in its ongoing cabin modernization drive. The first of the airline’s 26 787-8s was ferried to a Boeing facility in California in July 2025.
The second Boeing 787-8 is scheduled to be flown to the 
Boeing facility in October, with both aircraft set to return to service featuring refreshed cabins in December 2025. Upgrades to the entire 787-8 fleet are slated for completion by mid-2027, the Indian flag carrier confirmed in a press release.
