Agni forces AI flight to take detour

TIRUCHIRAPPALLI (TN): An Air India Express flight bound for Chennai via this city was forced to return to Singapore in view of the testing of Agni-III missile.

The Singapore-Tiruchirappalli-Chennai flight finally landed here at 6.30 pm on Thursday, over seven hours behind schedule, officials said.

The flight, scheduled to land at 11.05 am, was on its way here when defence officials advised the pilot to take a diversion for safety reasons in view of the Agni test.

The pilot then contacted the air traffic authorities in Colombo, the nearest airport, and requested permission to land there instead of going back to Singapore.

However, the Sri Lankan officials, citing the internal strife in the island and security reasons, declined permission, leaving the pilot with no option but to go back to Singapore, they said.

The flight returned here in the evening.