Air India flight AI2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi, carrying Congress leader KC Venugopal and several other MPs, was diverted to Chennai on Monday, August 11, due to a suspected technical issue. Claiming that there was another aircraft present on the runway, Venugopal described it as a ‘heart-stopping moment’ as to took to X (formerly Twitter) to recount his experience.

Slamming these claims, Air India responded to his post and clarified why the emergency landing needed two attempts. Explaining that it was due to the Chennai ATC’s instruction, it came as a response to Venugopal’s description of the aircraft coming “frighteningly close to tragedy”. Urging authorities to investigate, the Congress MP added, “passenger safety cannot depend on luck.”

Rebutting Air India’s reply, Venugopal stood by his claims and told ANI that “no other than the pilot” had announced that another plane was present on the runway when the Delhi-bound flight was about to make its precautionary landing in Chennai. He then aggressively claimed that, “Air India is lying”.

According to an Air India statement, the flight made a “precautionary diversion” to Chennai. Venugopal, however, described it as a harrowing journey, marked by severe turbulence and a “flight signal fault” announced by the Captain, before the diversion was initiated.

Air India responds

The airline responded to the MP commenting under his post on X. They clarified that the diversion was merely “precautionary” and only done after a “suspected technical issue and poor weather conditions.”

Air India responds to KC Venugopal

They elaborated that a “go-around” was instructed by Chennai ATC after the first attempt at landing. They negated Venugopal’s claim of the presence of another aircraft on the runway. Supporting their pilots, Air India showed confidence in them and ensured that the due procedure was followed. ” We understand that such an experience can be unsettling and regret the inconvenience the diversion may have caused to you. However, safety is always our priority,” the Air India statement read.

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‘We were saved by skill and luck’

However, as per Venugopal, another aircraft was on the same runway, which could have been disastrous. Hailing the pilot’s “quick decision to pull up”, the Congress MP added, was the reason behind the safety of the passengers. It was in the second attempt that this flight landed safely on the Chennai airstrip.

KC Venugopal urged a probe into the matter by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and held the airline accountable. He wrote, “fix accountability, and ensure such lapses never happen again.”

Congress MP K Suresh described the sudden turnaround the Air India aircraft made after the pilot announced the Chennai landing. Speaking to ANI, he shared that the other 160 passengers on board panicked and

DGCA statement on Venugopal

The DGCA, responding to Venugopal’s claims, issued a statement. While acknowledging the 49-minute delay, as opposed to K Suresh’s claims, the airline watchdog clarified that the crew noted an inaccurate turbulent weather which indicated a suspected RADAR malfunction. Following which the aircraft was diverted to Chennai.

Clarifying the two attempts and the Chennai ATC instruction, the statement revealed that the reason behind the same was to avoid “overweight landing and burn extra fuel”. Ahead of the safe landing in Chennai, a clear inspection of the runway was made by the apron control staff, based on which the clearance to land was given.

“During engineering inspection no deficiency was observed. However, as a precautionary measure, WX radar transreceiver was replaced with a serviceable one,” the DGCA revealed.