India’s Largest Pilots Association Demands Grounding of Boeing 787s After Emergency Power Incident

Pilots Association Urges Grounding of Boeing 787 Fleet in India

India’s largest pilots association has formally urged aviation regulators to ground all Boeing 787 aircraft currently operating in the country and conduct comprehensive inspections after a mid-air emergency exposed potential safety risks. The call comes after an Air India 787 unexpectedly deployed its ram air turbine (RAT)—a critical backup system designed to provide emergency power to flight controls and navigation instruments in the event of a serious loss of electrical or hydraulic power. According to a New York Times report, the incident has raised alarms throughout the aviation sector, prompting renewed scrutiny of Boeing’s safety practices in India.

Technical Snags and Recent Incidents Intensify Safety Concerns

In the past week alone, two separate technical snags have affected Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft, further fueling the pilots association’s demand for action. On October 4, flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham experienced an uncommanded deployment of its ram air turbine—a rare and serious occurrence that typically signals total electrical or hydraulic failure. Just days earlier, another Air India 787 was forced to divert to Dubai due to a separate technical issue. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), representing around 5,500 members, has called for a thorough audit of the electrical systems and special maintenance checks of all Boeing 787s, as detailed in a letter to Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is currently investigating the latest incident.

Public Reaction and Regulatory Pressure Mount

The pilots association’s demand has sparked widespread concern among both aviation professionals and passengers. Many are questioning Boeing’s safety record and urging government authorities to act decisively to prevent further incidents. The June 12, 2025, crash of an Air India Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad—which claimed 260 lives—remains fresh in the public memory and continues to influence calls for stricter oversight. With the investigation into that tragedy still ongoing, the urgency for immediate action has only grown. Calls for transparency and enhanced safety protocols are multiplying, as highlighted in recent industry analysis.

“An accidental automatic RAT deployment is an extremely unusual occurrence. That incident is being investigated by aviation safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).”

What’s Next for Boeing 787 Operations in India?

With mounting pressure from pilots, passengers, and media, Indian regulators are expected to announce further safety reviews or inspections in the coming days. The outcome of the DGCA investigation and any recommendations from the Ministry of Civil Aviation will likely shape the future of Boeing 787 operations in India. As scrutiny grows, industry experts and the flying public alike await decisive action to ensure safety and restore confidence in the nation’s aviation sector.