Airbags for airplanes: Weird solution offered to avoid crash tragedies

Although it’s been three months since the devastating Air India crash killed 260 people both onboard and on land on June 12 — engineers are already trying to come up with potential solutions to avoid such large-scale tragedies in the future.

While the concept may look wild and peculiar, it might have the ability to save countless lives if the minds behind it are to be believed.

Dubbed Project Rebirth, the concept is essentially a modified system for airplanesthat will deploy massive airbags — similar to those found in cars — to make an aircraft crash-proof should a crash be inevitable. The airbags would activate using AI, which would detect whether a crash is unavoidable and cannot be prevented by the pilot.

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The idea — birthed by two budding engineers from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani Dubai campus — is to create a system comprising smart airbags, impact-absorbing fluids, and reverse thrust mid-air, which would have the capability to turn “fatal crashes into survivable landings.”

The tech whizzes behind the idea, Dharsan Srinivasan and Eshel Wasim, came up with the concept while competing for the prestigious James Dyson Award this year. In fact, Project Rebirth has emerged as one of the finalists for the coveted honour which recognises inventions that have the ability to change the world.

The three pillars behind their concept are: cushioning impact, reducing descent speed, and absorbing energy — and Eshel and Dharsan are calling it the ‘first AI-powered crash survival system’. The pair say the concept has been ‘born from tragedy’.

On the James Dyson Award website, the duo explained the inspiration behind their idea, stating: “Project Rebirth was born not in a lab, but from a moment of heartbreak. After the June 2025 Ahmedabad crash, my [Eshel] mother couldn’t sleep. 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? I shared this with a friend. That emotional storm became hours of research and design. Rebirth is more than engineering — it’s a response to grief. A promise that survival can be planned, and that even after failure, there can be a second chance.”

Calling it “a system for airplanes that helps people survive crashes”, the duo have explained how it works. The airplane system would use five smart technologies to predict crashes, slow the aircraft, protect the passengers on board, and aid rescuers. The plane’s inbuilt AI system would monitor speed, altitude, direction, engine status, fire, and pilot response.

If a crash is unavoidable below 3,000ft, the plane’s AI system would automatically activate, with an option to override by the pilot. High-speed airbags would then deploy from the nose, belly, and tail of the aircraft in under 2 seconds.

The details

Airbags: The airbags would be made of layered fabric that can ‘absorb impact and protect the plane’s body’, forming a large protective cocoon which would ensure that any unexpected descent to the ground isn’t violent or explosive, no matter how fast the plane is traveling.

Reverse Thrust: The suggested reverse thrust would kick in if the craft’s engines are still working, causing it to slow the descent. If not, gas thrusters would activate to reduce the craft’s speed, stabilizing the plane by 8–20%.

Smart Fluids: The non-Newtonian smart fluids behind walls and seats would stay soft but harden on impact to reduce injuries in case of a crash.

Rescue Aids: A bright orange shell, GPS, infrared beacons, and exit lights would aid rescuers in locating the crash site.

The duo have proposed that Rebirth can be added to existing planes or built into new ones, as they set their sights on partnering with aerospace labs to test their idea further. While most aviation safety systems aim to prevent crashes, Eshel and Dharsan believe theirs is the first that will help people survive the crashes in the event that they do occur as it “prepares for the worst when all else fails”.

It remains to be seen whether Project Rebirth is technically plausible. National winners for the James Dyson Awards have already been announced.

The annual international design competition is open to all university level students or recent graduates. The global winner of the award will be announced on November 5 and will be awarded £30,000 to start their own venture.