MUMBAI: Travelers on an Air India flight from Delhi to Hong Kong endured a terrifying ordeal when a Boeing 787 door began rattling and emitting hissing, growling sounds roughly an hour into the journey on June 1.
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| Photo credit _The Times of India |
Air India’s crew frantically stuffed paper napkins into the narrow gap at the door’s top, desperately pressing to silence the menacing rattles, as the Boeing 787 pressed on to Hong Kong, landing safely despite the chaos.
This wasn’t the first time a B787’s door unleashed mid-flight terror. At least three other chilling incidents rocked airlines first with Japan Airlines in 2019, followed by two heart-stopping cases in 2022 with Germany’s TUI Airlines and American Airlines.
In each, petrified pilots diverted back to their starting airports to escape the roaring doors.
The Boeing 787 and its safety issues have been under scrutiny since the devastating June 12 Ahmedabad crash, which claimed 275 lives. The alarming incident on the Hong Kong-bound flight occurred prior to that tragedy.
Pilots reassured that while a hissing door may alarm passengers, it presents no significant threat to flight safety, as aircraft doors cannot open mid-flight.
The unsettling event unfolded on flight AI-314, which departed Delhi at 11:45 pm, more than an hour behind schedule. “Roughly an hour into the flight, the door began rattling and emitting noises, likely because the door seal dislodged due to air pressure, a passenger was quoted in a recent social media post.
Air India assures all safety protocols were fully adhered to.
Air India stated that every aircraft undergoes rigorous engineering inspections before being approved for flight, prioritizing safety above all, and the June 1 Delhi-Hong Kong flight was no exception. Mid-flight, a hissing noise arose from the decorative door panel, and after confirming no safety risk, the crew took steps to reduce the sound.
Upon landing at Hong Kong airport, the aircraft was thoroughly inspected by the engineering team.
All safety standards were met, and the aircraft was cleared for operations. No such noise occurred on the return flight AI315 from Hong Kong to Delhi.
We reaffirm that the safety of our passengers and crew is our utmost priority, Air India’s statement concluded.
What might have triggered the issue? As the aircraft ascends, the pressure difference between the cabin and the external atmosphere grows. The Boeing 787’s cabin is pressurized to simulate an altitude of about 6,000 ft, while the plane may cruise at 40,000 ft.
If the door seal is faulty, pressurized air intended for the cabin could escape, causing those noises, an anonymous source explained.
Unlike the Boeing 777 or 737, the Boeing 787 features an advanced plug-type door with electronic monitoring. This door swings outward and slides forward to open, then plugs into the fuselage for pressurization when closed.
In contrast, the B777’s door is manually operated, and the B737’s narrow-body design uses a manual, mechanical plug-type door.
Investigations into door plug issues reported globally by airlines revealed the latest documented incident in October 2022, when an American Airlines Boeing 787-800 flight to Paris returned to Philadelphia due to fumes detected near two doors.
Ground checks revealed a tiny breach in the door seal, unleashing eerie hisses and tremors as pressurized air escaped mid-flight. Cabin pressurization remained intact, with no oxygen masks needed, and the aircraft roared back into service just 30 hours later.
None of the three incidents involved cabin depressurization disasters. A veteran commander declared, “Such leaks can spark from a slightly misaligned or worn-out door seal, but they pose no threat to cabin pressure.
Even if all eight doors turned rogue, pilots would have ample warning to dive to 10,000 feet, following standard protocol for a decompression crisis.
Air safety guru Capt. Amit Singh warned, Is this a freak incident or a chilling pattern? It could stem from shoddy maintenance or a mishandled door closure, raising red flags.
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