Turkish Airlines Flight Lands Safely After Mid-Air Technical Issue

COLOMBO (News 1st) - A Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 operating flight TK 733 landed safely at Bandaranaike International Airport early this morning after experiencing a technical fault shortly after takeoff. 

The aircraft, carrying 202 passengers and 10 crew members, departed Katunayake for Istanbul at around 10.00 p.m. last night. 

Soon after departure, pilots detected an issue with the aircraft’s wheel system and decided to return to the airport as a precautionary measure.

At the time the fault was identified, the aircraft was flying at an altitude of approximately 4,000 feet over Chilaw.

The pilots subsequently circled in the Chilaw airspace for a period to burn off excess fuel before making a safe landing at Katunayake at around 12.30 a.m.

As part of standard emergency preparedness procedures, ambulances, fire engines, medical teams, and rescue personnel were deployed at the airport. 

Special rescue boats and teams were also positioned in the Negombo Lagoon.

All passengers disembarked safely and were transferred to hotels in the vicinity of the airport.