Turkish Airlines Jet Circles Sri Lanka As Istanbul-Bound Flight Attempts Re-Landing at BIA

COLOMBO (News 1st); A Turkish Airlines flight THY34D from Colombo to Istanbul was forced to abandon its initial departure and attempt a re-landing at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) after developing a technical issue with its landing gear.

Airport officials confirmed that the wide-body aircraft is currently circling above Colombo airspace to burn excess fuel before making its emergency return. This precautionary measure is standard procedure to ensure the aircraft lands at a safe weight.

Despite the tense situation, airport authorities reassured the public that other flight operations at BIA remain unaffected, stating: “There is no disruption to ongoing air traffic at the airport.”

Emergency services at Katunayake have been placed on high alert, with fire and rescue teams positioned along the runway in preparation for the landing attempt.