A SriLankan Airlines flight bound for Sydney was forced to return to Colombo on Friday after being struck by lightning shortly after take-off, according to reports.
The aircraft, carrying 207 passengers and 16 crew members, departed from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at 12:05 am when it encountered severe weather conditions along its route.
According to local media reports, including the Daily Mirror Sri Lanka, passengers heard a loud bang after the lightning strike and briefly observed sparks or flames near one of the aircraft’s engines. Despite the frightening incident, the flight crew responded promptly and managed the situation effectively.
A video circulating on social media captured sparks near the aircraft during the flight before it safely returned to Colombo.
Pilots later informed passengers that the aircraft had sustained minor engine damage due to the lightning strike. As a precautionary measure, the crew decided to abort the journey to Sydney and return to Colombo.
An airline source, quoted by ANI, said the aircraft turned back following an “operational incident during adverse weather conditions.”
The flight landed safely at Bandaranaike International Airport, and no injuries were reported among passengers or crew members.