August 1, 2025 – Los Angeles – A LATAM Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Flight LA603 from Los Angeles (LAX) to Santiago, Chile, returned safely to LAX on Thursday after circling over the Pacific Ocean for nearly an hour. The aircraft landed on Runway 25L with its Ram Air Turbine (RAT) visibly deployed -a rare emergency power source that typically signals a significant onboard systems issue.
The aircraft, registered CC-BBI, subsequently taxied to the gate under its own power.
While the aircraft’s unusual holding pattern and emergency return strongly suggest a significant inflight issue, there is no public record of a squawk 7700 (the transponder code for emergencies) being transmitted during the event. Flight tracking data does not show any emergency code set during the return.
A Prolonged Hold, Then a Return to LAX
According to Flightradar24 tracking data, the 787 entered a holding pattern over the Gulf of Santa Catalina, southwest of Los Angeles, for nearly an hour after departure. The flight path shows multiple loops, suggesting that the crew was troubleshooting an issue while potentially burning fuel to reduce landing weight.
A high-resolution image posted on Reddit and verified by aviation spotters shows LATAM’s 787-8 CC-BBI taxiing at LAX with its RAT visibly deployed beneath the fuselage, confirming eyewitness reports and video footage. The Reddit user who witnessed the departure and return of Flight LA603 noted that both engines appeared to be running at touchdown, with both thrust reversers deployed, and suggested the issue may have been electrical in nature.
While some online speculation suggested an engine failure as a reason for RAT deployment, the aircraft’s extended hold, fuel dumping, and normal landing suggest otherwise. A dual engine failure would have necessitated an immediate emergency landing, not a prolonged return. The RAT’s deployment more likely indicates an electrical or hydraulic systems issue, though the exact cause remains unconfirmed. The Aviation Brief would not want to speculate on causes until official information is released.
Although LATAM has not released an official statement, multiple videos of the aircraft’s landing clearly show the RAT deployed beneath the fuselage. Aviation watchers and experienced spotters confirmed its presence, aligning with the 787’s known RAT housing position. As of now, no airline or regulatory body has publicly verified the cause of the deployment.
Video of LATAM Flight LA603 landing at LAX with the RAT deployed, captured by Airline Videos Live. The RAT is visible under the fuselage during rollout.
What Is a RAT
The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) is a retractable, wind-powered backup device designed to provide emergency hydraulic and electrical power when an aircraft loses its primary and auxiliary power sources. On the 787, which relies heavily on electric systems, RAT deployment is a last-resort measure to maintain critical control functions.
While the RAT’s deployment often looks dramatic, it is a designed safety feature, allowing the aircraft to remain controllable during severe system failures.
RAT deployment has generated public interest since the preliminary report into the Air India AI171 crash revealed that the flight’s fuel control switches were moved to ‘Cutoff’ during takeoff, causing both engines to shut down and the RAT being automatically deployed.
While uncommon, RAT deployments are a crucial part of an aircraft’s emergency toolkit. RAT extended may look alarming, but it means the system is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.
As of publication, LATAM Airlines has not provided a formal comment. The FAA, NTSB, and Chile’s DGAC have also not issued any statements.
Image: A LATAM Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner at Santiago Airport. Image by Carlos Teixidor Cadenas via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0. (not the aircraft involved)
Read: Delta to Singapore Airlines: The Rise of Mid-Air Turbulence in Air Travel
Read: “Why Did You Cutoff?” – A Timeline of Horror in the Air India AI171 Crash
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