Five Members of Parliament (MPs) have formally requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to take action against Air India, alleging a "breach of privilege" following the diversion of a Thiruvananthapuram-Delhi flight on August 10, 2025. The MPs, including K.C. Venugopal of the Congress party, have also written to Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu, demanding a swift and comprehensive investigation into the incident.

The MPs who lodged the complaint are K.C. Venugopal, K Suresh, Adoor Prakash, and Robert Bruce from the Congress party, along with K. Radhakrishnan of the CPI(M). They were all passengers on Air India Flight AI 2455, which was scheduled to fly from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi.

In their letter to the Speaker, the MPs detailed the events of the flight, asserting a "grave breach of privilege" by Air India. They stated that the flight, initially scheduled for a 7:15 PM departure, was delayed and eventually took off around 8:30 PM due to the late arrival of the incoming aircraft. The journey was marked by significant turbulence, and passengers were instructed to remain strapped in, with in-flight services, including dinner, being withheld.

Midway through the flight, the pilot announced a critical technical fault – the failure of the weather radar – which necessitated the diversion of the aircraft to Chennai. This decision raised immediate concerns among the MPs, as they noted that airports in Bengaluru and Coimbatore were geographically closer at the time. The rationale for proceeding to a more distant airport while allegedly "flying blind" was not immediately clear to them.

Upon arrival in Chennai airspace, the aircraft reportedly circled for over an hour without explanation before attempting to land. During the initial landing attempt, a sudden "go-around" maneuver had to be executed. The MPs have emphasized the lack of clear and timely communication from Air India regarding the reasons for the diversion, the prolonged holding pattern, and the aborted landing.

The MPs are seeking a thorough and time-bound investigation into the matter, encompassing both technical and procedural aspects. They are also requesting that the findings of the investigation be made public to ensure transparency. Furthermore, they are urging that accountability be fixed, operational protocols for emergency diversions and runway safety be strengthened, and that passengers receive truthful and timely communication during such situations. They also stated that Air India's response was an attempt to discredit MPs who are raising genuine concerns regarding the safety of air travel.

Venugopal stated that the incident should serve as a wake-up call for Air India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Civil Aviation Ministry, urging them to address the lapses that lead to such incidents. The MPs argue that Air India's alleged lack of transparency is particularly concerning, especially considering the recent tragic air accident in Ahmedabad and other mid-air technical incidents. They are requesting that the matter be treated as a breach of privilege against Air India and that necessary action be taken to protect the rights of Members of Parliament and address public safety concerns.