New Delhi: A dramatic claim by Congress general secretary and Alappuzha MP KC Venugopal about a “near-tragedy” involving an Air India flight has escalated into a political and aviation safety row, with the airline publicly disputing his account and the BJP calling for possible punitive action.
Venugopal alleged that Air India’s AI 2455 Thiruvananthapuram–Delhi flight — carrying him, several MPs, and hundreds of passengers — came “frighteningly close to tragedy” after turbulence, a technical fault, and a runway hazard during an emergency diversion to Chennai.
According to his account, after about an hour into the flight, the captain announced a “flight signal fault” and diverted to Chennai. Venugopal claimed the aircraft circled for nearly two hours before attempting to land, only for the captain to suddenly abort the first attempt because “another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway.” He credited the captain’s “quick decision” with saving lives and demanded an urgent investigation.
Air India issued a rebuttal, stating the diversion was precautionary due to a suspected technical issue and poor weather. The airline said air traffic control instructed a “go-around” during the first landing attempt, but “not because another aircraft was on the runway.”
“Our pilots are well-trained… they followed standard procedures throughout,” the airline said, expressing regret for any inconvenience but insisting safety was never compromised.
Venugopal dismissed the explanation as false, maintaining that the captain announced another aircraft was on the runway. He reiterated his demand for a formal probe.
Aviation authorities later confirmed the diversion was triggered by a weather radar malfunction. The aircraft circled to burn fuel before landing to avoid an overweight touchdown. Air traffic control subsequently advised a go-around due to “debris on the runway,” not another aircraft. The plane landed safely, and no technical deficiencies were found, though a transceiver was replaced as a precaution.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya called the claim “extremely serious” and demanded consequences if it is found false.
“If the allegation is untrue, Venugopal should face consequences, including being put on a no-fly list for spreading falsehoods,” he said, adding that aviation safety “cannot be compromised by misinformation from supposedly responsible people.”
The spat comes amid heightened public sensitivity over air safety after the recent crash of AI-171 in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people. The tragedy has intensified scrutiny of airline safety protocols, with even precautionary diversions now sparking public alarm.
