Air India Flight Incident Raises Safety Concerns
On October 9, an Air India flight faced a serious technical issue that prompted a diversion midway through its journey. Flight 154, which departed from Vienna around 9 PM local time, was initially headed to New Delhi but was rerouted to Dubai after experiencing malfunctions in its autopilot and flight control systems.
Malfunctions During Flight
About halfway through the flight, the Boeing 787 pilots decided to alter their course towards Dubai due to critical failures in their aircraft’s systems. CS Randhawa, the president of the Federation of Indian Pilots, expressed deep concern regarding the incident in a letter to India’s Minister of Civil Aviation. He detailed that the autopilot ceased functioning suddenly, leading to a cascade of technical issues with the flight control systems.
Randhawa specifically highlighted the malfunction of the instrument landing system. This system is crucial, particularly during low visibility conditions or flights at night, as it assists pilots in landing safely. He commended the pilots for their skill in safely navigating the aircraft during such challenging circumstances, given the limitations imposed by the disabled systems.
Response from Air India and Boeing
While Air India confirmed through a spokesperson that the flight had to be diverted due to a “technical issue,” Boeing opted not to comment directly on the matter, directing inquiries to Air India instead. As a result, the airline’s response is currently limited, and no further statements have been issued regarding the specifics of the malfunction.
Data from Flightradar24 indicates that Flight 154 took off from Dubai approximately three and a half hours after it was diverted to that city. Ultimately, the flight arrived in New Delhi, four hours later than its scheduled arrival time.
Recent Safety Concerns
This incident comes on the heels of another serious event involving an Air India Boeing 787 just days prior. During an approach to Birmingham, England, the ram air turbine (RAT)—an emergency power mechanism—deployed unexpectedly. Air India addressed that situation by claiming that all electrical and hydraulic parameters were normal at the time.
Randhawa has called for urgent inspections of the electrical systems on all Boeing 787 aircraft operated by Air India, in light of these recurring problems. In response, India’s aviation regulator requested that Air India re-evaluate the RAT systems on several of its aircraft. They also demanded a report from Boeing regarding the issues encountered.
Historical Context
The Boeing 787 model has been under increased scrutiny since the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 in June. Preliminary investigations pointed towards a premature deployment of the RAT, which occurred after both engines lost fuel seconds into the flight. While the investigation is ongoing, many theories suggest that the pilots’ actions may have led to this dangerous situation, due to built-in safeguards against unintentional switching.
The final report concerning the cause of that incident is expected to take over a year to complete, leaving questions about aircraft safety lingering in the minds of both the public and aviation professionals.
Moving Forward
As the investigation into the recent diversion unfolds, safety measures for Boeing 787 aircraft are expected to come under greater inspection. The aviation community is holding its collective breath as the implications of these technical failures will only become clear once a thorough evaluation is completed. The importance of safety in airline operations cannot be overstated, especially in light of these serious incidents.
