Air India Flight Diverted Amid Turbulence and System Glitch

Congress Leader KC Venugopal Recounts “Harrowing Journey”

An Air India flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Chennai on Sunday due to a suspected technical fault and adverse weather conditions. The incident occurred on August 10th.

Emergency Diversion to Chennai

Flight AI2455 experienced a suspected technical issue and encountered rough weather, prompting the crew to divert to Chennai. Air India confirmed the aircraft landed without incident and would undergo necessary inspections. A spokesperson stated, “We regret the inconvenience caused to the affected passengers. Our colleagues on the ground in Chennai are extending support to the passengers to minimise it and are making alternative arrangements to fly the passengers to their respective destinations at the earliest.”

Air India flight AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi – carrying myself, several MPs, and hundreds of passengers – came frighteningly close to tragedy today. What began as a delayed departure turned into a harrowing journey. Shortly after take-off, we were hit by unprecedented turbulence. About an hour later, the Captain announced a flight signal fault and diverted to Chennai. For nearly two hours, we circled the airport awaiting clearance to land, until a heart-stopping moment during our first attempt – another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway. In that split second, the Captain’s quick decision to pull up saved every life on board. The flight landed safely on the second attempt. We were saved by skill and luck. Passenger safety cannot depend on luck. I urge @DGCAIndia and @MoCA_GoI to investigate this incident urgently, fix accountability, and ensure such lapses never happen again.

— K.C. Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) August 11, 2024

Passenger’s Account of Near Miss

Congress leader **KC Venugopal**, who was on board the flight, described the experience as a “harrowing journey.” He recounted severe turbulence shortly after takeoff, followed by an announcement of a “flight signal fault” leading to the diversion. **Venugopal** detailed a critical moment where the aircraft circled for nearly two hours and aborted its first landing attempt due to another plane reportedly being on the runway. He praised the captain’s swift action in averting a potential disaster and called for an urgent investigation by aviation authorities into the incident.

Passenger safety is paramount, and incidents like this highlight the importance of stringent safety protocols in aviation. In 2023, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported a 42% increase in aviation-related complaints compared to the previous year, underscoring the need for continuous vigilance and improvement in air travel safety (DGCA Annual Report 2023).

Regulatory Oversight

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has not yet released a statement regarding the diversion and the events described by **Venugopal**.

Air India is arranging alternative travel for the passengers to their final destinations as swiftly as possible.