Police said the RSS Sarsanghchalak's bullet proof car's steering developed mechanical defect when his convoy entered the airport road in Nedumbassery near here.
Bhagwat, guarded by an armed squad of CISF, however, continued his travel to the airport in a spare car to catch his morning flight, they said.
"It happened two kilometers away from the airport. He travelled in the spare car which was not bullet proof. But all laid down procedures were followed while Bhagwat was taken to airport in the spare car," a police official told PTI on condition of anonymity.