Sri Lankan A330 returns after lightning strike
The crew decided to turn back as a precaution, and the aircraft landed safely with all 207 passengers and 16 crew members on board
ATT Desk Report 
A SriLankan Airlines Airbus A330-200 operating flight UL606 from Colombo to Sydney returned to the airport shortly after take-off on 12 June after a lightning strike reportedly affected one of the aircraft's engines. The crew decided to turn back as a precaution, and the aircraft landed safely with all 207 passengers and 16 crew members on board. No injuries were reported.
The incident attracted widespread attention after videos and images shared on social media appeared to show flames near the aircraft's right engine during the climb. SriLankan Airlines later confirmed the flight's safe return and said a replacement aircraft was dispatched, allowing passengers to continue their journey to Sydney later that morning, reports aviation-based news outlet Simple Flying.
Lightning strike prompts return
According to the Aviation Safety Network, the aircraft involved was an Airbus A330-243 registered 4R-ALH. The jet was climbing after departing Colombo when it was reportedly struck by lightning, prompting the crew to abandon the flight and return to the airport. The aircraft landed without further incident.
Sri Lanka's civil aviation authorities confirmed that the aircraft returned safely to Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. Officials said the incident occurred while the flight was still within Sri Lankan airspace and that an investigation had been launched to assess the circumstances surrounding the strike and any resulting damage.
Images shared online by aviation observers and flight-tracking accounts appeared to show brief flames or sparks from the affected engine, prompting speculation about the severity of the incident. However, airlines and investigators typically carry out detailed inspections before determining the extent of any damage caused by a lightning strike. Even so, visible flames or sparks from an engine are likely to cause concern among passengers and observers.
Airline prioritises safety
In a statement issued after the incident, SriLankan Airlines said the safety of passengers and crew remained its highest priority. The carrier confirmed that flight UL606 landed safely following the lightning strike and that a replacement aircraft departed at 5:51am local time to continue the service to Sydney.
The airline did not immediately provide technical details about the reported engine flames or the extent of any maintenance work required. Such assessments are normally carried out by engineering teams in coordination with aviation regulators before an aircraft is cleared to return to service.
The incident also highlights how airlines respond to unexpected technical or weather-related disruptions. Rather than continuing the nearly 10-hour flight to Australia, the crew chose to return to a maintenance base where the aircraft could undergo a thorough inspection.
Although the incident caused significant disruption to the service, the safe outcome underscored the effectiveness of established emergency procedures, aircraft certification standards and crew training in dealing with unforeseen hazards. Investigators are expected to review the incident as part of the standard post-event process.
