Air India's Delhi-London flight returns after suspected technical snag

An Air India flight from Delhi to London was forced to return after the crew suspected a technical issue with the cargo compartment. The AI-111 Airbus 350 experienced strong thudding and excessive noise while flying near Oman airspace on 26th March. The same aircraft had undergone maintenance on 16th March for a similar issue, after which it completed ten sectors without incident. However, when the crew detected excessive noise during this flight, they decided to turn back to Delhi as a precautionary measure. The aircraft landed safely at its base in Delhi and has been grounded for maintenance. The DGCA has initiated an investigation into the incident, with airworthiness and air safety department officers examining the matter. Sources confirmed that the crew's alertness helped avert a potential incident, ensuring passenger safety throughout the emergency return.