Ahmedabad Air India Incident: Understanding the Ram Air Turbine

Quick Summary

• Incident: The Aircraft Accident Inquiry Bureau released a preliminary report on the Air India Boeing 787-8 crash near Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The crash occurred due to fuel being cut off to the aircraft’s two engines, which are its main source of power.
• Aircraft Model: The boeing 787-8 is noted for its electrified systems and reliance on engine power.
• Emergency Measures: CCTV footage showed the deployment of a ram air turbine (RAT) following the loss of engine power.This device generates emergency energy for critical systems during major failures.
• RAT Mechanism: RATs provide limited emergency power by converting airflow into electrical or hydraulic energy needed for flight controls and communication equipment. Deployment occurs automatically or manually when primary systems fail.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The Air India crash underscores critical safety concerns regarding modern aircraft technology, particularly models highly dependent on electrified systems like the Boeing 787-8. While the deployment of a ram air turbine (RAT) highlights engineering ingenuity in mitigating emergencies, it also raises questions about protocols ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply to engines-essential for preventing such incidents altogether.

From an aviation safety viewpoint, this event may trigger enhanced scrutiny on operational checks and emergency response mechanisms both within airlines and regulatory bodies. India’s aviation sector could benefit from applying lessons learned here to strengthen preventive measures against technical failures while fostering public confidence in air travel reliability.

Read more

—

Image:

!Ram air turbine deployed in an Airbus A320
Photo Credit: Curimedia (CC BY)