Sri Lanka, July 13 -- A Turkish Airlines flight TK-731 which departed Katunayake Airport for Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday had to return to Katunayake after a bird strike.
According to the Katunayake Airport Duty Officer, the aircraft flew at a low speed and altitude over the Negombo Lagoon area for around three hours and 15 minutes after the incident until its fuel reserves dropped to a safe landing level. The aircraft was a wide-body Airbus A-330, carrying 246 passengers and 10 crew members.
The Turkish Airlines flight TK-731 had departed Katunayake Airport at 07:07 a.m. for a six hour flight to Istanbul carrying 80,000 kg of fuel at the time.
A bird struck the aircraft soon after take-off and the pilot promptly informed Katunayake Air...