Air India Flight Returns to Delhi Due to Technical Issues During London Journey
Air India Flight AI111 Returns to Delhi
An Air India flight bound for London had to turn back to Delhi on Thursday after detecting a potential technical issue during the journey. The aircraft had been airborne for several hours before the pilots opted to return as a precautionary measure. The flight, designated AI111, was operated by an Airbus A350-900.
According to a spokesperson for Air India, the decision to return to the national capital was made after signs of a possible technical malfunction were observed during the flight.
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Air India confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and is currently undergoing a thorough technical assessment in line with the airline's high safety standards, which may take additional time to complete. Reports indicate that unusual noises were heard from within the aircraft while it was flying over Saudi Arabian airspace, prompting the crew to decide on returning to Delhi to ensure passenger safety.
The flight took off from Delhi around 6 AM and safely landed back at approximately 12:30 PM. Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of passengers on board at the time of the incident. The airline's spokesperson expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to travelers and stated that efforts are being made to minimize disruptions and arrange for the passengers' onward journey to London as soon as possible.
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Sources revealed that the aircraft, registered as VT-JRF, remained in the air for nearly seven hours before returning to Delhi. This is not the first instance of technical issues with this aircraft; a similar problem occurred earlier this month on March 15 during a flight from New York to Delhi, which had to be diverted to Shannon, Ireland.