Air India dismisses pilot body’s call to ground Boeing 787s
After the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) urged the civil aviation ministry to ground all Boeing 787 Dreamliners operated by Air India following two recent technical incidents involving the aircraft, the carrier denied any electrical failure as the cause of the incidents.
The pilot group highlighted concerns over electrical system malfunctions and automation failures in a letter to Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu. FIP pointed to recurring electrical and automation malfunctions in the fleet.
On October 9, Air India flight AI154 from Vienna to Delhi was diverted to Dubai after experiencing a sudden autopilot failure, which led to issues with critical systems, including the Instrument Landing System and Flight Directors. Pilots had to manually fly the aircraft at night before safely landing in Dubai, according to reports.
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Earlier, on October 4, Air India flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham deployed the ram air turbine (RAT)—an emergency power source—during landing, raising alarms about possible electrical system issues. Both flights involved Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
The FIP, representing around 5,000 pilots, cited these incidents alongside the June crash of an Air India Dreamliner that tragically killed 260 people, calling for all Dreamliners in India to be grounded pending thorough checks of their electrical systems.
The group also called for a special audit of Air India operations by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Air India responds
Air India, in a statement, described the un-commanded RAT deployment on flight AI117 as an isolated event unrelated to system faults or pilot error. The carrier also categorically stated that the AI154 diversion was due to a technical issue, but the aircraft landed safely, and passengers were well cared for.
"Based on the conclusions from our preliminary investigations, the deployment of the RAT was neither due to a system fault nor pilot action. The deployment of the RAT was 'uncommanded', consistent with similar occurrences with other airlines in the past, as reported by Boeing," Air India said.
The airline stressed that passenger and crew safety remain its highest priorities and that preliminary reports have been submitted to DGCA, with the involved aircraft cleared for continued service following internal investigations.
Air India operates 33 Dreamliners, which form a significant part of its fleet, while IndiGo also leases 787 aircraft from Norse Atlantic. The ongoing debate over the safety of the Dreamliner electrical systems continues amid calls for regulatory scrutiny and enhanced operational checks.
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