Investigators now believe Air India Flight 171’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner activated its emergency power system moments before crashing—signaling a catastrophic system failure that could reshape the probe into India’s deadliest air disaster in years.
At a Glance
- The plane’s emergency Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was visibly deployed in post-crash video of Flight 171
- RAT activation typically signals dual engine failure or complete hydraulic/power loss
- Flight 171 lost data transmission at just 625 feet and crashed into a hostel, killing 241 on board and at least 30 on the ground
- Experts say such system failures in modern 787s are “exceptionally rare”
- Full investigation into the cause may take over a year to complete
Why RAT Activation Changes Everything
The RAT—a wind-powered turbine deployed only when all primary electrical and hydraulic systems fail—was spotted beneath Flight 171’s wing in verified video analyzed by the Wall Street Journal. Its presence strongly suggests the Dreamliner experienced a dual engine shutdown or other severe system collapse shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
Aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse noted that “pilots do not deploy the RAT unless they’ve lost both engines or face another catastrophic failure,” as reported by The Economic Times. In many cases, a RAT will deploy automatically.
Watch a report: Breakthrough in Air India Crash Probe.
What Investigators Are Focusing On
Flight 171 had barely left the runway—reaching only 625 feet—when data transmission abruptly stopped and the aircraft plunged into a student hostel, as covered by The Sun. Black box data is now under review by Indian and Boeing teams, who are examining whether an engine malfunction, hydraulic system collapse, or electrical fault triggered the RAT and doomed the flight.
Meanwhile, Air India has temporarily grounded several Dreamliner routes as a precaution. Indian regulators have also ordered enhanced inspections of Boeing 787 aircraft across the country.
Why It Matters
This is the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787—a model with a near-flawless safety record until now. Industry experts stress that dual engine or hydraulic failures on a modern jet are “extremely rare,” heightening the significance of the RAT’s activation.
The coming months will be critical in determining whether mechanical failure, maintenance issues, or design flaws played a role—and whether similar risks exist across the global Dreamliner fleet.
The crash of Flight 171 may ultimately force new engineering and regulatory scrutiny on one of the world’s most advanced passenger jets.
