New Delhi: Congress MP K.C. Venugopal has alleged that a serious mishap was narrowly avoided on an Air India flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi after the aircraft was forced to circle in the air for nearly two hours. The flight, AI2455, was diverted to Chennai due to adverse weather conditions. According to Venugopal, delays in getting landing clearance, followed by an aborted landing, made the journey a “harrowing” experience for passengers.
Venugopal, who was on board along with several other Members of Parliament and hundreds of passengers, claimed that when the flight finally received clearance to land in Chennai, another aircraft was already present on the runway. This, he alleged, forced the pilot to take off again in an emergency maneuver, commonly referred to as a “go-around” in aviation. He credited the pilot’s “presence of mind” with saving lives.
“समझ से परे है…
एयर इंडिया के जहाज़ों में आये दिन दिक्कतें आती हैं,
फिर भी लोग अपनी जान जोखिम में डालकर सफर क्यों कर रहे हैं?”#boycott_Air_india @airindia pic.twitter.com/0pWOofSqTl— chandan (@chandan_stp) August 11, 2025
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Venugopal recounted the incident:
“Air India flight number AI2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi, in which I, several MPs and hundreds of passengers were on board, came horribly close to tragedy today. What began as a routine delay soon turned into a frightening experience. About an hour after take-off, the captain announced a malfunction in the flight signal and diverted the Air India Flight to Chennai. For the next two hours, we kept circling the airport, awaiting clearance to land. During our first attempt, we were informed that another aircraft was on the same runway. The captain’s quick decision to abort the landing saved us. On our second attempt, we landed safely. This was a mix of skill and sheer luck. Passenger safety should never depend on luck. I urge the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to investigate the matter immediately, fix accountability, and ensure such lapses never occur again.”
Venugopal’s account quickly drew public attention, sparking concerns over passenger safety and air traffic management procedures. Many on social media echoed his demand for an inquiry, with some users sharing their own experiences of stressful flight diversions.
Air India Responds to Allegations
Air India Flight, however, has strongly refuted the claim that another plane was on the runway during the first landing attempt. Responding directly to Venugopal’s post, the airline wrote:
“Dear Mr. Venugopal, we would like to clarify that the diversion to Chennai was a precautionary step due to a suspected technical problem and adverse weather conditions. The go-around during the first landing attempt was instructed by Chennai Air Traffic Control (ATC) and was not due to the presence of another aircraft on the runway. Our pilots are extensively trained to handle such situations, and in this case, they followed all standard operating procedures. We regret the inconvenience this diversion caused, but passenger safety is and will always remain our top priority.”
The airline also issued an official statement, explaining that on August 10, the pilot of flight AI2455 diverted the aircraft to Chennai as a precautionary measure in view of suspected technical issues combined with poor weather along the route. “The flight landed safely in Chennai, where necessary inspections will be conducted. We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers and our colleagues in Chennai are assisting them to minimize the disruption. Alternative arrangements are being made to ensure all passengers reach their destinations as quickly as possible,” the statement read.
Air India emphasized that diversions and go-arounds are standard safety measures in aviation, designed to mitigate risks. “While such situations can understandably cause discomfort or anxiety for passengers, they are in fact a sign that protocols are working as intended,” the airline said. ( Air India Flight )
The Broader Context ( Air India Flight )
Aviation experts note that go-arounds, though rare for passengers, are not uncommon in flight operations. They can be triggered by various factors such as sudden weather changes, runway obstructions, or ATC instructions. In India, where air traffic has been steadily increasing, congestion at major airports has occasionally led to delays and last-minute landing adjustments.
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Venugopal’s demand for a formal investigation may put renewed focus on communication protocols between pilots and ATC, as well as the preparedness of airports to handle diversions during bad weather.
While Air India Flight insists that all procedures were followed, the incident has reignited debate on whether more transparency is needed when flights face operational challenges.
For now, all passengers of AI2455 reached Chennai safely, and arrangements are underway to transport them to Delhi.
Both Venugopal and Air India Flight agree on one point — the professionalism of the pilots played a key role in ensuring that the Air India flight concluded without harm.
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