The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has requested the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to conduct an inspection of the electrical systems on all Boeing 787 aircraft operating in India.
The request, submitted on October 5, 2025, follows an incident involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that was forced to land in the UK after its Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed unexpectedly during the final approach.
The incident occurred on October 4, when Air India flight AI117, operating from Amritsar (ATQ) to Birmingham (BHX), experienced automatic deployment of the RAT at approximately 500 feet during descent. The aircraft landed safely, and all onboard systems reportedly functioned normally throughout the flight, according to the airline.
The RAT is a small turbine that deploys automatically in the event of dual engine failure or total electrical or hydraulic system failure, generating emergency power for critical systems. An Air India spokesperson confirmed that, despite the deployment, the aircraft’s electrical and hydraulic systems remained fully operational.
In a letter to the DGCA, FIP President GS Randhawa noted that the Aircraft Health Monitoring (AHM) system on the Boeing 787 had detected a fault in the Bus Power Control Unit (BPCU), which may have triggered the RAT deployment.
“The Aircraft Health Monitoring system has picked up a fault of the Bus Power Control Unit, which may have caused the auto deployment of RAT,” Randhawa said.
The BPCU is a critical component that manages an aircraft’s electrical power distribution, and any malfunction could disrupt power management and activate backup systems.
The FIP said the incident highlights potential systemic electrical vulnerabilities in Boeing 787 aircraft. The federation referenced multiple past incidents and stressed the need for thorough checks of all B787 aircraft in the country.
