SriLankan says flight UL196 did not make an emergency landing
Wednesday, 3 July 2013 00:00
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Sri Lankan Airlines in a statement clarified that the media reports which appeared particularly in India that SriLankan flight UL 196, bound to New Delhi from Colombo with 143 passengers on board, had made an emergency landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), last Saturday (June 30th) is totally misleading.
On Saturday 29th June at 1232hrs SriLankan flight UL196 touched down at the IGIA and during taxi the pilots detected an unusual temperature rise on the two wheels of the rear main landing gear. Accordingly, the pilots stopped the aircraft on the taxiway and informed the control tower of the defect. Upon inspection by the ground crew it was discovered that two wheels of the rear landing gear were deflated and to prevent further damage on the wheels, it was requested that the passengers, crew and the cargo be offloaded on the taxiway. Thereafter two wheels were replaced with new ones and the flight was taxied to the parking bay. At 0715hrs, Sunday 30th June the flight was ready for the return journey to Colombo with passengers and cargo.
SriLankan Airlines wishes to clarify that contrary to these media reports, at no instance did the flight UL196 make an emergency landing or experience any kind of risk to the passengers, crew or the aircraft.
With regard to media reports on SriLankan flight UL196 making a low flight at IGIA, the aircraft encountered a phenomenon of wind shear on the first approach and therefore executed a go around which is the recommended procedure. A second approach was made and a safe landing was achieved.
As a result of the time taken to change the wheels, the crew exceeded their allowable flight duty period and had to be given the required rest before commencing flight duty. To prevent any inconvenience due to the delay, SriLankan Airlines made arrangements to accommodate all the passengers in hotels. On Sunday 30th June at 0715hrs flight took off from IGIA to Colombo.
SriLankan Airlines takes pride in its safety record and handled the situation with utmost caution. The passenger-safety was by no means in jeopardy as implied by some of these reports in the media.
