Air India, owned by Tata Group, reported that its flight from Vienna to Delhi on October 9 was diverted to Dubai due to a technical issue. The aircraft landed safely in Dubai for necessary checks before continuing its journey. The flight resumed at 08:45 hours IST and reached Delhi at 12:19 hours IST. Air India did not specify the technical problem that led to the diversion.

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) disclosed that the Boeing 787 aircraft encountered multiple system failures. These included issues with the autopilots, ILS instrument landing system, flight directors, and flight control systems. The aircraft lacked autoland capability during the incident. Air India refuted claims of an electrical failure in the aircraft.

Technical Challenges and Safety Concerns

On October 4, a similar issue occurred with another Air India flight when the RAT deployed during approach at Birmingham. The RAT is designed to provide emergency power using wind speed in case of dual engine or total electronic failure. This incident raised concerns about the reliability of Boeing 787 aircraft’s electrical systems.

The FIP has called for grounding the entire B787 fleet and requested a special audit by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). They emphasised the need for thorough checks on all Boeing 787s in India due to recurring technical issues. The pilots had to manually fly the plane at night due to autopilot malfunctions.

Previous Incidents and Investigations

Earlier, on June 12, an Air India Boeing 787-8 crashed into a medical hostel complex after take-off from Ahmedabad, resulting in 260 fatalities. This tragic accident highlighted ongoing safety concerns with Boeing 787 aircraft operated by Air India. Following these incidents, FIP urged DGCA to investigate thoroughly.

The FIP’s letter detailed how pilots were unable to engage autopilots due to electrical malfunctions during the Vienna-Delhi flight. This forced them to divert to Dubai for safety reasons. The letter also mentioned that flight directors were unavailable, and flight control systems were degraded.

Air India’s statement reiterated their stance since June 16 that all B-787s should undergo comprehensive electrical system checks. Despite these challenges, Air India maintains there was no electrical failure in the diverted aircraft.

The recent incidents have intensified scrutiny over Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet. Safety regulators are being urged to conduct detailed investigations into these technical failures. Ensuring passenger safety remains a top priority amidst these ongoing concerns.

With inputs from PTI