Air India diverted a scheduled Delhi-Mumbai flight to Jaipur to pick up 35 players and other members of the Mumbai Indians team of the Indian Premier League on April 12, a spokesman of the airlines said.

The report of the diversion of the scheduled flight came in the backdrop of the controversy over the national carrier pulling out an aircraft of its scheduled flight and converting into a charter to ferry IPL players from Chandigarh to Chennai on April 20.

The flight IC-887, scheduled on the Delhi-Mumbai-Aurangabad sector, was diverted on April 12 to Jaipur to pick up the Mumbai Indian team, the spokesperson said, adding there was no violation of rules as the concerned authorities were informed in advance.

"All the team members were holding tickets and we are the official carrier for the tournament," he said, adding Air India's regional directors for all four regions were empowered to take any such decision.

"They have total autonomy in this regard. We have adhered to all rules and procedures", he said.

Air India Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav said, "All diversions have taken place with the prior approval of the relevant authorities".

The spokesman claimed that the decision to divert the flights was taken as early as on March 15 and not overnight.