DGCA Orders Air India to Re-inspect Specific Systems on its Boeing 787s Following Recent Incidents

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7 months ago

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has instructed Air India to carry out a renewed inspection of the emergency power system on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, following the recent replacement of a module, according to a report from the Press Trust of India.

The regulator has also demanded that Boeing submit a detailed report on the preventive measures implemented to prevent so-called uncommanded deployments of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a critical component activated only in emergencies to keep essential systems like flight controls and navigation operational.

Background: A Series of Incidents Raise Alarms

The DGCA’s decision comes at a time when aviation safety practices in India are under heightened scrutiny, driven by the sector’s rapid growth and a series of recent concerning events.

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In early October, a flight between Amritsar and Birmingham experienced an unexpected activation of the RAT prior to landing. Days later, on October 9, a flight from Vienna to Delhi had to be diverted to Dubai due to autopilot failures and issues with other systems, according to the same source.

A Track Record Demanding Answers

These incidents add to the tragedy that occurred on June 30, when an Air India aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad seconds after takeoff, resulting in 241 fatalities and a single survivor. The final report on that accident has not yet been published.

Pilots’ Call and Pressure on the Airline

In light of this situation, the Indian Pilots’ Federation has requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation to conduct a special audit of Air India’s entire Boeing 787 fleet and has even suggested temporarily suspending operations of the affected aircraft until their safety can be guaranteed.