An Air India flight, AI 2455, traveling from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi on Sunday, August 10, 2025, carrying several Members of Parliament (MPs) and hundreds of passengers, was diverted to Chennai following a suspected technical issue and adverse weather conditions. The incident, which Congress MP KC Venugopal described as a "harrowing journey" that "came frighteningly close to tragedy," has prompted calls for investigation and accountability.

According to Venugopal, who was among the passengers, the flight experienced severe turbulence shortly after takeoff. Approximately an hour later, the captain announced a flight signal fault and made the decision to divert to Chennai. The aircraft circled the Chennai airport for nearly two hours awaiting clearance to land. During the initial landing attempt, a "heart-stopping moment" occurred when another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway. The captain's swift decision to abort the landing and pull up averted a potential disaster, and the flight eventually landed safely on the second attempt. Flightradar24.com indicates the flight took off around 8 PM from Thiruvananthapuram and landed in Chennai around 10:35 PM.

Venugopal, who is also the Chairman of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, took to social media to express his concerns and recount the experience. "Air India flight AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi -- carrying myself, several MPs, and hundreds of passengers -- came frighteningly close to tragedy today," he stated in his post on X. He emphasized that passenger safety should not depend on luck and urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to conduct an urgent investigation to determine accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future. Other Kerala MPs on board included K. Radhakrishnan, Kodikkunnil Suresh and Adoor Prakash.

Air India has acknowledged the diversion, citing a suspected technical issue and weather conditions as the reasons for the precautionary landing in Chennai. An Air India spokesperson stated that the flight crew of AI2455 made the diversion and that the aircraft would undergo necessary checks in Chennai. The airline also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers. However, Air India has denied the claims regarding the near-miss with another aircraft on the runway.

The incident has raised concerns about passenger safety and the need for thorough investigation and preventative measures. While Air India maintains that safety is always their priority, the close call has highlighted the importance of addressing potential lapses and ensuring that such incidents do not recur.