The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has clarified that the diversion of Air India flight AI 2455 from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi on August 10 was due to a suspected weather radar snag, not a runway intrusion, as alleged by Congress MP KC Venugopal.

According to the DGCA, the Airbus A320 departed Thiruvananthapuram 49 minutes late because of a weather diversion affecting its inbound leg. During the flight, the crew encountered moderate turbulence and suspected that the weather radar was malfunctioning, prompting a diversion to Chennai. To avoid an overweight landing, the aircraft circled 25 nautical miles northeast of the city for 43 minutes before making its first approach.

At 10:19 pm, Chennai Air Traffic Control instructed a go-around after a departing Gulf Air flight reported debris on the left side of Runway 25. A runway inspection revealed nothing, and the Air India plane landed safely at 10.39 pm. Engineering checks later found no defects, but the weather radar transreceiver was replaced as a precaution.

Venugopal, who was on board along with four other MPs, had claimed that another aircraft was on the runway during their first landing attempt, calling it a “narrow escape” and demanding an enquiry. “It was announced by the pilot that there was another aircraft on the runway. I spoke to DGCA as well. Let them have an inquiry. Air India is lying,” he had said.

Air India denied his claim, stating the diversion was precautionary due to the suspected technical issue and poor weather, and that the go-around was not linked to any runway incursion. The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of the airline’s operations following a recent fatal crash in Ahmedabad.

– Ends

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