Air India Flight with MPs Diverted After Technical Snag, Near-Miss Claimed
An Air India flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi, carrying several Members of Parliament, was diverted to Chennai for an emergency landing due to a suspected technical fault. Congress leader K.C. Venugopal described a "harrowing" experience, claiming the pilot aborted the first landing to avoid another aircraft on the runway. Air India acknowledged the precautionary diversion and go-around but stated it was instructed by ATC and not due to another plane. An investigation into the incident has been urged.
Unpacked:
Reports cite a suspected onboard radar malfunction, which can impair weather/terrain awareness and approach guidance, prompting precautionary diversion and inspection. Such faults are treated as significant but manageable; standard procedure is to divert and land safely, as happened here. The DGCA is expected to probe the technical snag to determine root cause and any maintenance implications.
A go-around is an aborted landing where pilots climb, re-enter the traffic pattern, and attempt another approach. Pilots may initiate it at any time for safety; ATC can also instruct one due to spacing, runway occupancy, or hazards. Air India says ATC instructed the go-around; passengers alleged another plane on the runway prompted pilot action. Both can occur in practice.
The DGCA can open an incident investigation, review ATC tapes, flight data, and crew reports, and coordinate with airport authorities on runway safety and air traffic management. Findings may lead to advisories, training refreshers, or procedural changes. In this case, DGCA is expected to examine both the radar fault and the aborted landing sequence.
Accounts mention turbulent weather, a delayed departure, and nearly two hours of holding before the first approach, all of which can add complexity and pilot workload. The diversion was precautionary due to suspected technical issues, and the first landing was aborted before a safe second landing was completed.