Sri Lanka, Oct. 28 -- A SriLankan Airlines flight bound for London returned to Katunayake Airport shortly after take-off on October 28 following a bird strike, according to a spokesperson for the airline's Corporate Communications Division.

Flight UL-503, an Airbus A330, departed at 12.55 p.m. but was forced to return and land at Katunayake Airport after the incident.

The aircraft was carrying 269 passengers, including four young children, and 15 crew members. All passengers safely disembarked after the aircraft landed.

SriLankan Airlines arranged refreshments for the affected passengers and made arrangements to transfer them to another aircraft scheduled to depart for Heathrow Airport in London shortly.

Meanwhile, the aircraft invol...