Air India Flight Faces Near-Tragedy During Journey from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi
Incident Overview
On Sunday night, K.C. Venugopal, a senior Congress leader and chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, reported that he and several other MPs experienced a harrowing incident aboard an Air India flight traveling from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi, which came alarmingly close to disaster.
The airline later issued a statement explaining that flight AI2455 was diverted to Chennai due to a technical malfunction.
In a post on social media, Venugopal described the flight as having reached a critical situation, stating, 'The Air India flight AI 2455 from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi was perilously close to a tragedy, with myself, numerous MPs, and hundreds of passengers onboard.'
Flight Experience
He recounted that what began as a delayed departure quickly escalated into a terrifying ordeal. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft encountered severe turbulence. Approximately an hour into the flight, the captain announced a malfunction in the flight signal, prompting a diversion to Chennai.
Venugopal noted, 'We circled above the airport for nearly two hours awaiting clearance to land. When we finally attempted to land, a heart-stopping moment occurred as we were informed that another aircraft was on the runway. Thanks to the captain's quick thinking, we ascended again, averting disaster. On the second attempt, we landed safely.'
Call for Investigation
He emphasized the importance of both the captain's skill and luck in ensuring their safety, stating, 'Passenger safety cannot be left to chance. I urge the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to conduct an immediate investigation, assign accountability, and ensure such lapses do not occur again.'
Airline's Response
In response to Venugopal's comments on social media, Air India clarified that the diversion to Chennai was a precautionary measure due to a suspected technical issue and adverse weather conditions.
The airline asserted, 'During the initial landing attempt at Chennai Airport, air traffic control instructed a 'go-around'; there was no other aircraft on the runway... Our pilots are well-trained to handle such situations and adhered to standard procedures throughout the flight.'
Flight Details
The airline acknowledged that such experiences can be unsettling and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the diversion, reiterating that safety is always their top priority.
According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, flight AI2455, operated by an Airbus A320, remained airborne for over two hours.
Earlier, the airline had stated that the crew of flight AI2455, which took off from Thiruvananthapuram on August 10, redirected the aircraft to Chennai due to suspected technical difficulties and poor weather conditions.
Air India confirmed that the aircraft landed safely in Chennai, where necessary inspections would be conducted. They are arranging alternative transportation for passengers to reach their destination as soon as possible and apologized for the inconvenience caused. Details regarding the number of passengers onboard were not disclosed.
FlightRadar24 indicated that the aircraft departed Thiruvananthapuram shortly after 8 PM and arrived in Chennai around 10:35 PM. Recent weeks have seen several technical issues reported on Air India flights.