A Plane with Outside Airbags? Engineers Propose an AI-Powered 'Crash-Proof' Jet After the Air India Disaster
In the wake of the Air India crash, a team of engineers unveiled Project REBIRTH—a concept for an aircraft equipped with outside airbags, impact-absorbing fluids, and mid-air reverse thrust. They describe it as the first AI-powered crash-survival system. The project is a finalist for the James Dyson Award, which spotlights inventions that could change the world. The idea is to turn fatal crashes into survivable landings by cocooning the fuselage in smart airbags as sensors detect an imminent impact. The 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad occurred just 30 seconds after takeoff, en route to London, killing all but one of the 242 people aboard.
In This Article:
Inspired by Tragedy: Grief, a Mother's Sleepless Nights, and a Dream of Survival
The designers, Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science’s Dubai campus, say the Ahmedabad crash sparked their design. "After the June 2025 Ahmedabad crash, my mother couldn’t sleep," one of the creators wrote. "She kept thinking about the fear the passengers and pilots must have felt, knowing there was no way out. That helplessness haunted us. Why isn’t there a system for survival after failure?" They describe REBIRTH as more than engineering — it’s a response to grief and a promise that survival can be planned, and that even after failure, there can be a second chance. They hope to collaborate with aerospace labs for crash sled and wind tunnel testing.
How REBIRTH Works: AI, Airbags, and Alternate Thrust
The system monitors altitude, speed, engine status, direction, fire, and pilot response to decide when a crash is imminent and to trigger deployment. If a crash is unavoidable below 3,000 feet, the airbags deploy automatically—the captain can abort deployment at that moment. The collision cushions deploy from the nose, belly, and tail in under two seconds, forming a protective cocoon around the aircraft. If engines work, reverse thrust slows the descent. If not, gas thrusters activate. This reduces speed and stabilizes the plane by 8–20%. Behind the walls and seats, impact-absorbing fluids stay soft but harden on impact to reduce injuries. The airbags can be added to existing planes or installed in new ones, with plans to partner with aerospace labs for crash sled and wind tunnel testing.
Status, Testing, and a Force for Good
There is no release date yet; the team wants REBIRTH to be tested, approved, and used on real flights. If Wasim and Srinivasan win the James Dyson Award, the winner will be announced on November 5, and they could receive over $40,000 and the chance to start a business. The researchers insist their goal is not fame or money but a step toward saving lives when all else fails. They plan to partner with aerospace labs for crash sled and wind tunnel testing.
