Air India Flight From Amritsar To Birmingham Makes Safe Landing After Rare Mid-Air Emergency Turbine Alert

Passengers on an Air India flight from Amritsar to Birmingham got an unexpected scare on Saturday, October 4, when the aircraft’s emergency turbine system, known as the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), deployed during the final approach. The flight, operating as AI117, landed safely at Birmingham Airport despite the surprise activation, leaving passengers relieved and airline officials focused on ensuring everything was fully safe.

Emergency Turbine Alert On Air India Amritsar to Birmingham Flight

According to Air India, the flight crew noticed that the RAT had deployed mid-air. For those unfamiliar, the Ram Air Turbine is a small, fold-out device that acts like a backup windmill. In the event that a plane’s primary electrical systems or main engines fail, it automatically produces emergency power. This ensures that critical systems, like flight instruments and hydraulic controls, continue to work.

In this incident, however, there was no actual engine or power failure. All electrical and hydraulic systems were functioning normally. According to ANI via India TV News, an airline spokesperson stated that despite the RAT being deployed, the crew remained composed and had complete control of the aircraft during the descent. Thanks to their experience and training, the plane touched down smoothly, and all passengers arrived safely.

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Aircraft Grounded For Safety Checks

As soon as the plane landed, it was grounded for extensive inspections. Engineers are investigating the cause of the turbine’s unexpected deployment. Air India emphasised that grounding the plane is a standard safety measure. The goal is to ensure that every system is working perfectly before the aircraft can fly again.

Because of the grounding, the airline’s return flight, AI114 from Birmingham to Delhi, had to be cancelled, India TV News reported. Air India assured passengers that alternative arrangements are being made, and affected travellers will be accommodated on upcoming flights.

In its statement, Air India emphasised that there was never a risk to the safety of its passengers. This incident clearly shows how modern aircraft are equipped with multiple backup systems. Even though it isn’t often, the Ram Air Turbine is designed to deal with unexpected emergencies and allows pilots to keep control even in dangerous situations.

Surely, the incident may have made some travellers anxious. But it also reminds us how dependable airline safety systems are and how trained crews deal with any situation in a composed manner.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Quintin Soloviev