New Delhi [India], October 5 (ANI): The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has formally requested the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to investigate the electrical systems of all Boeing 787 aircraft in India, following a recent incident involving Air India flight AI117.
The incident occurred on October 4 during the aircraft’s final approach to Birmingham. AI117, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating from Amritsar to Birmingham, deployed its Ram Air Turbine (RAT) automatically at an altitude of 500 feet. The Aircraft Health Monitoring (AHM) system detected a fault in the Bus Power Control Unit (BPCU), which may have caused the RAT deployment. Despite this, all electrical and hydraulic systems reportedly functioned normally, and the aircraft landed safely.
An Air India spokesperson confirmed that no passengers or crew were injured. However, the aircraft has been grounded at Birmingham for detailed inspections, resulting in the cancellation of AI114 from Birmingham to Delhi. The airline is making alternate arrangements for affected passengers.
In its written appeal, the FIP stressed that similar issues with the B-787 electrical systems have been reported since its induction into India’s fleet. Citing possible links to the earlier Air India-171 crash, the FIP urged a thorough nationwide inspection of the B-787 fleet to ensure passenger safety.
The DGCA and AAIB are yet to issue an official statement regarding the request. The outcome of this inspection could have implications for Air India’s Boeing 787 operations in India.
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