A scheduled Air India flight, originating from Thiruvananthapuram and bound for Delhi, was forced to make an emergency landing in Chennai on Sunday due to a reported technical problem. Flight AI2455, an Airbus A320, was in the air for more than two hours before the diversion, as indicated by data from Flightradar24.
Air India reported that the flight crew made the decision to divert the plane to Chennai as a precautionary measure. This was prompted by a potential technical fault and unfavorable weather conditions encountered during the flight.
The flight was carrying five Members of Parliament, along with other passengers and crew. The airline confirmed that the aircraft landed safely in Chennai. Among the passengers were four Members of Parliament from Kerala: K.C. Venugopal, a Congress General Secretary; Adoor Prakash, the UDF convener; Kodikunnil Suresh, a senior Congress leader; and K. Radhakrishnan. Additionally, Tamil Nadu MP Robert Bruce was on board.
Venugopal, a passenger on the flight, characterized the event as a near miss, averting a significant accident. He stated that a radar malfunction led to the need for the emergency landing, with the aircraft airborne for over an hour before the landing. He has already notified the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regarding the incident.
Air India released a statement confirming the safe landing in Chennai, where the aircraft will be thoroughly inspected. The airline is working to arrange alternative travel options for the passengers to reach their destinations promptly and offered apologies for any disruption. The exact passenger count has not been disclosed. According to Flightradar24, the flight departed Thiruvananthapuram after 8 PM and arrived in Chennai around 10:35 PM.