Runway Drama: Plane Had Begun Takeoff But Pilots Were Forced to Stop

The pilots of SriLankan Airlines flight UL503 from Colombo to London Heathrow were forced to abort takeoff today (October 28) following a suspected bird strike on one of the plane's engines, the airline said in an official statement.

The flight was scheduled to take off at 12:55 local time. Following the incident, the plane was returned to the parking lot, and all passengers and crew disembarked safely.

The company assigned a replacement aircraft and crew to operate the flight to London. The flight took off at 4:30 PM, approximately three hours and 35 minutes after the original departure time.

SriLankan Airlines apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers and thanked them for their patience. The company emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew is its top priority and that it is committed to meeting all safety requirements.