SriLankan Airlines flight diverted to Mattala

SriLankan Airlines’ flight UL 605 from Melbourne to Colombo was diverted to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport on Thursday due to inclement weather at Bandaranaike International Airport.

“The aircraft had to further remain on the ground at Mattala as the operating crew of the flight had reached their flight duty time limitation according to civil aviation regulations,” the airline said in a statement on Friday.

There were 294 passengers, 3 infants and 15 crew members onboard UL 605. Passengers who were to disembark in Sri Lanka were provided with ground transport to Colombo and passengers travelling beyond Sri Lanka were given hotel accommodation in and around Mattala until the flight’s departure to Bandaranaike International Airport.

The airline said it regrets any inconvenience caused to passengers as a result of diverting the flight, which was a necessary measure to ensure a safe landing for the passengers and crew members onboard.