Air India A320 Flight Diverts to Chennai Instead of Delhi Airport

NEW DELHI- An Air India (AI) flight traveling from Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) to Delhi (DEL) was redirected to Chennai (MAA) on August 10, 2025, due to a potential technical malfunction and challenging weather conditions along the route.

The Airbus aircraft, designated as AI 2455, successfully landed in Chennai around 10:35 PM, shortly after taking off from Thiruvananthapuram just past 8:00 PM. Air India has confirmed that they are conducting technical evaluations and providing support to passengers.

Air India Flight Diverts to Chennai

The diversion of flight AI 2455 was made as a precautionary measure after a possible technical issue was identified during the journey.

Additionally, unfavorable weather conditions in the intended airspace heightened the operational risks, necessitating a landing at Chennai Airport (MAA).

Once on the ground, the aircraft was taken out of service for comprehensive inspections. Air India announced that ground staff in Chennai provided assistance to passengers, including refreshments and options for rebooking.

Efforts are ongoing to ensure all affected travelers reach Delhi (DEL) or their respective destinations without delay.

Flight Timeline and Operations:

• Flight Number: AI 2455
• Departure: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV)
• Arrival: Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (DEL)
• Diverted to: Chennai International Airport (MAA)
• Departure Time: Shortly after 8:00 PM IST
• Arrival Time: Around 10:35 PM IST

The decision to divert was taken mid-flight after reviewing technical indicators and updated weather information. The top priority throughout was passenger safety and regulatory compliance.

Similar Incident

In another instance on July 21, 2025, an Air India (AI) flight traveling from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Delhi (DEL) was also diverted, this time to Istanbul (IST), due to a medical emergency onboard.

The Boeing 777-300ER, operating as flight AI126, took off from Chicago at 19:29 UTC, over two hours later than planned. After more than 10 hours in the air, a passenger experienced a significant medical issue.

The cabin crew swiftly alerted the pilots, who worked with air traffic control to redirect to the nearest appropriate airport.

The flight safely landed in Istanbul at 05:27 UTC, where medical teams boarded to assist the passenger before transferring them to a hospital.

The aircraft remained idle for over five hours before departing at 10:29 UTC without the affected traveler, arriving in Delhi at 17:17 UTC.

The involved aircraft, a 15.1-year-old Boeing 777-300ER registered as VT-ALU, resumed its operations post-incident. Air India highlighted that medical diversions and other essential operational changes are handled with passenger safety always at the forefront.

Recent Technical Concerns

This situation is part of a trend involving several precautionary landings of Air India flights in recent weeks due to detected technical alerts.

Adhering to industry safety standards, airlines must take immediate action when irregularities arise, even when these situations may turn out to be non-critical.

Air India reaffirmed its dedication to safety as its primary operational focus, assuring travelers that these precautionary measures are standard practice in the aviation industry.