Archive · 26 Oct 2025
Boeing Explains RAT Deployment on Air India Dreamliner Flights
Sometimes, airplanes have a backup system called the RAT that can provide power if the engines or electricity fail.
On some Air India Dreamliners, this RAT has been deploying unexpectedly.
Boeing, the plane maker, said it's because a small part inside the system, a toggle, can slip out of place after the plane is worked on.
This mostly happens on older planes with a certain part that hasn't been updated.
Boeing has told Air India to check the system on some of its planes to make sure the toggle is correctly locked, to prevent the unexpected RAT deployment.
This issue has occurred in 31 instances in the last 14 years.
Boeing explained why the RAT deployed on an Air India Dreamliner flight to Birmingham.
The deployment was caused by a mechanical toggle issue within the RAT system.
This issue has been seen in 31 instances in 14 years.
Air India is repeating RAT stowage procedures on 16 Dreamliners.
Boeing has introduced a design change to prevent this issue in the future.
- Who
- Boeing and Air India
- What
- Boeing explained the uncommanded deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) on Air India Dreamliner flights.
- When
- October 4th, 2024, and incidents over the last 14 years
- Where
- Birmingham flight and other Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners globally.
- Why
- Due to a mechanical issue with the RAT stowage system after maintenance.
- Aircraft
- Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
- Airline
- Air India
- RAT Deployment Cause
- Mechanical toggle issue after maintenance
- Affected Aircraft
- 16 Air India Dreamliners
- Instances of Deployment
- 31 uncommanded deployments globally in 14 years