Popcorn planes? Students design giant airbags for aircraft; AI system promises to 'bounce' crashes into survivals

In the aftermath of June's tragic Air India crash , two young engineers believe they may have found a way to make the skies safer with outside airbags for aeroplanes.

The futuristic safety concept, called Project REBIRTH , has been shortlisted for the prestigious James Dyson Award , which honours groundbreaking inventions that can change the world.

Designed by Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science's Dubai campus, the system uses artificial intelligence to predict imminent crashes and deploy protective airbags around the aircraft's fuselage, according to the James Dyson Award's official website. The idea, however unconventional, is simple: cushion the plane like a giant inflatable cocoon to turn otherwise fatal impacts into survivable landings.



"Project REBIRTH is the first AI-powered crash survival system," the inventors explained. "It deploys smart airbags, impact-absorbing fluids, and reverse thrust mid-air — turning fatal crashes into survivable landings."

Born from tragedy

The two engineers said the idea came after the Air India Flight 171 disaster in Ahmedabad in June, when a 787-8 Dreamliner crashed just seconds after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people on board.



"After the June 2025 crash, my mother couldn't sleep," one of the creators recalled. "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?"

How does it work?

The REBIRTH system continuously monitors altitude, speed, engine performance, fire, direction, and pilot response. If a crash below 3,000 feet is deemed unavoidable, the airbags deploy within two seconds from the nose, belly, and tail, wrapping the fuselage in padded layers, according to the official website.



Other features include:

• Reverse thrust or gas thrusters to slow descent and stabilise the plane.
• Impact-absorbing fluids behind walls and seats that remain soft until impact, then harden to reduce injuries.
• Compatibility with both new and existing aircraft.

The road ahead

The designers hope to partner with aerospace labs for crash sledge and wind tunnel testing. While no timeline has been set for real-world trials, they say their goal is clear: to make REBIRTH "tested, approved, and used in real flights."

If they win the James Dyson Award on November 5, they'll receive more than $40,000 and support to launch their own company. But Wasim and Srinivasan insist their mission goes beyond money or recognition.

"This competition is our first step in bringing our vision forward — not for fame, but with the hope that one day, it may help save lives when all else fails," they said.