For the second time in less than a fortnight, a long-haul flight operated by Air India using its newest wide-body aircraft was forced to abandon its journey mid-air, raising fresh questions over operational reliability.On Thursday, an Airbus A350-900 (VT-JRF) operating flight AI111 from Delhi to London Heathrow Airport returned to the national capital after remaining airborne for nearly seven hours due to a suspected technical issue.The aircraft had taken off around 6 am but turned back as a precaution, landing safely in Delhi around 12.30 pm. This marks the second such incident involving the same aircraft in just 10 days. On March 15, the A350-900 (VT-JRF), then operating a New York-Delhi flight, had to be diverted to Shannon in Ireland following a technical snag, according to sources.In a statement, the airline said the decision to return was taken after a suspected technical issue was detected mid-flight. The aircraft was now undergoing detailed technical checks, which were expected to take additional time.The airline said passengers and crew were safe, and arrangements were being made to assist flyers, including refreshments and alternate travel plans to London.Air India maintained that safety considerations guided the decision and expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers.The repeated disruptions involving one of the airline’s newest aircraft, inducted as part of its fleet modernisation push in January 2024, come at a time when the carrier is expanding long-haul operations and seeking to rebuild passenger confidence.While precautionary returns are standard aviation protocol, two technical turnbacks involving the same aircraft within days are likely to draw closer scrutiny of maintenance and operational readiness.