An Air India flight experienced a technical malfunction, leading to an emergency landing in Chennai on Sunday evening. The flight, which was traveling from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi, was identified as AI2455 and operated by an Airbus A320. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft was in the air for over two hours.
Air India explained that the crew decided to divert the aircraft to Chennai as a precaution. The decision was made due to a suspected technical issue and challenging weather conditions along the flight path.
On board the flight were several passengers, including five Members of Parliament. The airline reported the safe landing of the plane in Chennai. The MPs included K.C. Venugopal, Congress General Secretary, Adoor Prakash, the UDF convener, senior Congress leaders Kodikunnil Suresh and K. Radhakrishnan, all from Kerala, and Tamil Nadu MP Robert Bruce.
K.C. Venugopal, speaking about the incident, said it was a close call, averting a major accident. He stated that a radar problem was the cause of the emergency landing and they were in the air for approximately an hour and ten minutes before landing. He also mentioned that he had already informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Air India confirmed the safe landing in Chennai and that the aircraft would undergo necessary checks. The airline stated that alternative arrangements would be made to get the passengers to their final destinations as soon as possible and apologized for any inconvenience caused. The number of passengers is currently unknown. Flightradar24 information indicated the flight departed Thiruvananthapuram after 8 PM and arrived in Chennai around 10:35 PM.