Air India Flight to Visakhapatnam Cancelled at Vijayawada After Technical Snag
Former Vice President stranded as Air India cancels Visakhapatnam flight.
An Air India flight destined for Visakhapatnam from Gannavaram Airport near Vijayawada faced abrupt cancellation on Thursday evening, December 18, 2025, after a technical issue was detected. The disruption occurred during pre-departure procedures, affecting all passengers on board and highlighting the challenges in maintaining seamless regional air connectivity in Andhra Pradesh.
Among the impacted travellers were several high-profile individuals, including former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister K Atchennaidu, and senior YSRCP leader B Satyanarayana (also referred to as Botsa Satyanarayana in some reports). These dignitaries, along with approximately 175 other passengers on the Hyderabad-Gannavaram-Visakhapatnam route operated by Air India Express, were compelled to abandon their scheduled journeys, underscoring the unforeseen nature of such aviation incidents.
Vijayawada Airport Director Lakshmikanth Reddy provided details on the sequence of events, explaining that the technical snag—an engine-related problem—was identified while the aircraft was taxiing towards the runway around 8:30 pm. As a precautionary measure, the pilots promptly returned the plane to the parking bay, where it was grounded for inspection and rectification by technical teams, ensuring no risks were taken with takeoff.
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An official spokesperson for Air India confirmed that the issue was spotted prior to departure, emphasising the airline's strict adherence to safety protocols. The decision to cancel the flight was made to prioritise passenger well-being, with the aircraft safely secured and no reports of injuries or further complications arising from the incident.
In response to the cancellation, Air India extended support to affected passengers by arranging hotel accommodations overnight and providing flexible options such as full refunds or complimentary rescheduling on subsequent flights. The airline expressed regret for the inconvenience caused while reaffirming its unwavering commitment to safety as the cornerstone of all operational decisions.
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