Turkish Airlines is currently considering suspending flight operations to Sri Lanka over the attitude of the Sri Lankan Airlines
after a Turkish plane met with an accident at the Katunayake Airport.
Bad ground handling and the inability to refuel the aircraft are two other reasons for the decision.
According to reports, the incident is as follows.
A cargo plane belonging to Turkish Airlines TK-6050, an A-330-300 Airbus, met with an accident at Katunayake Airport on the 3rd.
This Turkish airline aircraft arrived at the Katunayake Airport at around 09.00 pm on July 03 with a load of goods from Istanbul, Turkey.
The aircraft was to leave Katunayake Airport for Istanbul, at around 11.30 pm the same day, with a load of 45 metric tons of “Victoria’s Secret Stores” garments.
At that time, a container due to be loaded was stationary near the aircraft.
The gale-force winds that engulfed the Katunayake airport and its surroundings pushed the container towards the aircraft, ramming one of its engines.
Informed sources said the container was stationary applying brakes to ensure that it would not cause any damage to the aircraft.
The airline failed to have the aircraft repaired or take steps to leave the airport.
The negligence of the ground handling staff, their attitude and refuelling issues have resulted in the airline considering suspensions of operations in Sri Lanka.
