SriLankan clarifies on UL 503 flight’s return

Saturday, 4 January 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

With reference to a media report on a SriLankan flight allegedly making a nosedive, SriLankan Airlines wishes to clarify that at no point did the captain of the flight lose control of the flight nor did it experience a nosedive. On 1 January at 1435hrs SriLankan flight UL 503 departed Colombo, for London Heathrow Airport. Approximately 45 minutes after the take-off, the cockpit crew observed a crack in the windshield. The windshield of the aircraft has three layers of glass and it was the centre-layer which had developed the crack. As per the manufacturers’ recommended procedure the pilots descended the aircraft to 10,000 ft as a precautionary measure to minimise the differential pressure on the windshield. Therefore, in the interest of the passengers’ safety and the aircraft, the pilots decided to return to Colombo for the replacement of the windshield. Accordingly, the flight UL 503 returned to Bandaranaike International Airport at 1630hrs without incident. SriLankan wishes to emphasise that it is the standard procedure for any airline to descend to 10, 000 ft to prevent the differential pressure on the windshield and at no stage was the aircraft or the passengers’ safety compromised. Currently the investigations are underway to identify the exact reasons in order to prevent incidents of similar nature. SriLankan wishes to reiterate that the Airline always maintains the highest safety standards the industry requires, and considers the well-being of the passengers its foremost priority which under no circumstance will be compromised.

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