Turkish Airlines flight returns to Katunayake after bird strike

A Turkish Airlines flight returned to Katunayake after a reported bird strike shortly after takeoff from Bandaranaike International Airport. The aircraft, an Airbus A330-300 operating as flight TK731, made the emergency return on Saturday and spent more than three hours in Sri Lankan airspace off the west coast as a precaution before landing. Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAASL) said the jet does not have an in-flight fuel dumping system, requiring it to burn fuel to reduce landing weight. Authorities confirmed the flight controls were functioning normally and that all passengers and crew were safe. Emergency rescue and firefighting teams were placed on standby at Bandaranaike in line with standard procedures. The incident also drew global attention as aviation enthusiasts tracked the plane online, making it the most tracked flight on Flightradar24 during the event.