Boeing 787’s emergency-power system likely active before Air India crash, WSJ reports
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Air India plane crash latest: Investigators find emergency power likely came on before crash as 66 Dreamliner flights cancelled
Air India has cancelled 66 Dreamliner flights since the 12 June crash in Ahmedabad. The airline has also delayed multiple flights serviced by Boeing 787-8. The Wall Street Journal reported that this possibly suggested an engine or hydraulic failure during takeoff, a rare and serious event in commercial aviation. However, the investigators were yet to determine whether engine, hydraulic, or other system failures activated the emergency power.
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Investigators probing the deadly crash of Air India flight 171 in which more than 270 people were killed have found that the aircraft’s emergency power system was likely active just before impact.
The Wall Street Journal reported that this possibly suggested an engine or hydraulic failure during takeoff, a rare and serious event in commercial aviation.
However, the investigators were yet to determine whether engine, hydraulic, or other system failures activated the emergency power, according to the outlet, which cited people familiar with the probe.
Air India has cancelled 66 Dreamliner flights since the 12 June crash in Ahmedabad, Indian aviation regulator DGCA said on Tuesday.
The airline has also delayed multiple flights serviced by Boeing 787-8. It has attributed the interruptions to grounded aircraft, technical issues, restricted airspace, and heightened safety protocols.
The DGCA, meanwhile, has found no major flaws in Air India’s Dreamliners, but flagged maintenance delays and coordination issues.
Families in india”>India with concerns can call Air India on 1800 5691 444. Those outside India can call the British Foreign Office on 020 7008 5000.
Air India crash: What is emergency power, activated after a dual engine failure?
Investigators probing the Air India 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad are focusing on the aircraft’s emergency power generator, which was activated before impact. The activation of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) suggests a significant failure in the main electrical systems during takeoff. Investigators are now focusing on engine performance, power loss scenarios, and how the emergency systems were triggered. The development comes amid the ongoing investigation into what is now the deadliest commercial aviation disaster in over a decade. The aircraft, enroute to London Gatwick Airport with 242 people on board, lost altitude seconds after takeoff. All but one passenger died, with over 30 fatalities reported on the ground. In commercial aircraft, emergency power systems like the RAT are not routinely deployed. They serve as last-resort backup mechanisms when both the main and auxiliary systems fail. These systems support essential operations such as avionics, flight controls, and communication. Their activation, especially during critical phases like takeoff, signals a breakdown of normal systems.
Investigators probing the Air India 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad are focusing on the aircraft’s emergency power generator, which was activated before impact. The activation of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) suggests a significant failure in the main electrical systems during takeoff. Scrutiny of engine performance, power loss scenarios, and maintenance protocols has intensified following the deadly incident.
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What emergency power activation suggests
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Ram Air Turbine (RAT): Deployed during flight to supply emergency hydraulic or electrical power.
Deployed during flight to supply emergency hydraulic or electrical power. Battery Backup: Offers short-term power to essential systems.
Offers short-term power to essential systems. Emergency Generators: Engine or RAT-driven generators that activate under power loss.
Engine or RAT-driven generators that activate under power loss. Hydraulic Accumulators: Provide pressure for flight control surfaces if hydraulic systems fail.
Provide pressure for flight control surfaces if hydraulic systems fail. Auxiliary Power Unit (APU): Not usually used in flight emergencies but can provide power on the ground or in-flight under certain conditions.
As several theories regarding the fatal Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash swamp the internet, investigators examining the unfortunate incident believe the aircraft’s emergency power generator was activated before crashing, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal , citing sources.The development comes amid the ongoing investigation into what is now the deadliest commercial aviation disaster in over a decade. The aircraft, enroute to London Gatwick Airport with 242 people on board, lost altitude seconds after takeoff. All but one passenger died, with over 30 fatalities reported on the ground.The use of emergency power typically points to a serious failure in the aircraft’s main electrical systems. In the Dreamliner, this includes deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a wind-powered device that generates electricity and hydraulic pressure to maintain control of the aircraft in the event of a total power or engine failure.In commercial aircraft, emergency power systems like the RAT are not routinely deployed. They serve as last-resort backup mechanisms when both the main and auxiliary systems fail. These systems support essential operations such as avionics, flight controls, and communication.Emergency power systems are designed to buy time and preserve safety when the unexpected occurs. Their activation, especially during critical phases like takeoff, signals a breakdown of normal systems.Types of emergency power in aircraft include:If any of these systems are in use, particularly the RAT, it indicates that the aircraft experienced a significant failure, such as engine shutdown, electrical malfunction, or structural damage, that forced the crew to rely on backup systems to maintain control.The reported RAT activation raises concerns about whether those engines functioned as expected during takeoff. Investigators are now focusing on engine performance, power loss scenarios, and how the emergency systems were triggered.India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said this week that there were no major safety findings in recent surveillance of Air India’s 787 fleet. However, the crash has led to renewed scrutiny of operational readiness and maintenance protocols.Further, aviation expert Captain Steve Scheibner in his assessment of the June 12 Air India crash near Ahmedabad says the available evidence strongly supports a dual engine failure.Captain Steve Scheibner, a former US Navy pilot with over 20,000 hours of flying experience, is widely respected for his in-depth aviation analysis and flight safety expertise. He had earlier outlined four possible causes of the crash. These included loss of power, fuel contamination, a bird strike, or a flap setting error. However, after examining sharper video footage released after the incident, his opinion has changed.“In the middle of the circle, you see kind of a protrusion on the belly of the aircraft… just underneath that you see a little grey dot… that little grey dot is the RAT,” Scheibner said in a new video posted on YouTube. He was referring to the ram air turbine (RAT), a device designed to deploy automatically if both engines fail or if the aircraft loses all hydraulic or electrical systems.“This is visual confirmation that the RAT deployed,” he said. The RAT is not meant to activate under normal flight conditions and only comes into action during extreme emergencies.
A Possible Clue Emerges in Deadly Air India Crash
Investigators say the plane’s emergency-power generator was likely active at the time of the crash. The emergency system is a small wind-powered device that drops from the bottom of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s fuselage. The investigation is expected to produce a preliminary report within 30 days and a final one in about a year.
Pilots can also deploy it manually, which an aerospace safety consultant tells the paper could happen in instances where they suspect total engine failure—an extremely rare event in modern commercial aviation, he adds. At this stage, investigators have not determined whether engines, hydraulics, or other components may have triggered the RAT.
The investigation is expected to produce a preliminary report within 30 days and a final one in about a year, per international protocol, reports the BBC. A former NTSB official suggests the engine wreckage will provide some quick direction: “You can tell from the damage whether the engines were generating power at impact—turbines fracture differently when spinning at high speed.” (This content was created with the help of AI. Read our AI policy.)
Air India Crash: Did Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Suffer Engine Failure At Takeoff? Could Tragedy Have Been Averted?
The emergency power system on board the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed last week in Ahmedabad was likely active when the plane went down. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) is a small, foldable windmill-like device fitted on aircraft that acts as an emergency backup system. RAT uses the airflow generated as the plane moves through the sky to spin its turbine, which in turn generates electricity and hydraulic pressure. This powers essential systems like flight controls, instruments, and communications, allowing the pilots to maintain control. The aircraft was fitted with GE Aerospace’s GEnx engines, though the engine manufacturer did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
The emergency power system on board the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed last week in Ahmedabad was likely active when the plane went down, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the investigation.
Investigators believe that the aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT) — a backup system that generates electricity and hydraulic pressure if both engines fail — had deployed. This raises serious questions about whether the Dreamliner’s engines functioned properly during takeoff.
The aircraft was fitted with GE Aerospace’s GEnx engines, though the engine manufacturer did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
What Is RAT?
RAT stands for Ram Air Turbine — a small, foldable windmill-like device fitted on aircraft that acts as an emergency backup system. Here’s how it works:
When is it used?
It deploys automatically if both engines fail or if the aircraft loses main power.
What does it do?
The RAT uses the airflow generated as the plane moves through the sky to spin its turbine, which in turn generates electricity and hydraulic pressure. This powers essential systems like flight controls, instruments, and communications, allowing the pilots to maintain control.
Why is it important?
It serves as a last line of defence when everything else fails, helping the pilots fly and land the plane safely, even in the worst-case scenarios.
CCTV Clip Key Evidence
The Dreamliner was en route to Gatwick Airport in the UK with 242 people on board when it began losing altitude just seconds after takeoff. It crashed into a medical college hostel near the airport, killing all but one passenger and at least 30 people on the ground, making it the deadliest aviation disaster in a decade.
India’s civil aviation ministry and Boeing have declined to comment, referring queries to the country’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
A 59-second CCTV clip has emerged as key evidence. It shows the plane lifting off, followed by a rapid descent just 17 seconds later, with no visible signs of engine fire.
“It’s a tragic incident, and the whole world is watching,” said one Indian official involved in the probe.
What actions have been taken?
The Indian aviation regulator has requested pilot training records, maintenance logs, and dispatcher data from Air India. Preliminary checks of Air India’s 787 fleet showed no major safety concerns, but regulators did raise red flags over recent maintenance issues.
As part of the international probe, teams from the US NTSB, FAA, Boeing, and GE Aerospace have visited the crash site. Black boxes have been recovered and are under analysis.
Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran met Boeing’s Commercial Aeroplanes head Stephanie Pope this week. Addressing 700 staff in a town hall, he said, “We must use this tragedy as a turning point — to become a safer and stronger airline.”
Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in India sparks global safety probe
Air India Flight 171 went down less than 40 seconds after takeoff in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. More than 270 people were killed when the London, Gatwick-bound aircraft crashed.
Air India Flight 171 went down less than 40 seconds after takeoff in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on June 12. More than 270 people were killed when the London, Gatwick-bound aircraft crashed into a densely populated neighborhood.
Now, new reports show that two flights involving Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft returned to their port of departure soon after takeoff in the last week. For both flights, the pilots cited technical issues with the aircraft. Air India has also cancelled at least eight international flights operated by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.