World's largest aircraft leaves Mattala

The world's largest aircraft, Antonov An-225 Mriya, which landed in Sri Lanka on Wednesday, left the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) for Karachchi, Pakistan, at about 4.45am today (20).

The plane, carrying a crew of 24, landed at Mattala Airport in order to refuel and provide rest for its crew. 

The aircraft was on route from Malaysia to Karachchi in Pakistan when it landed. 

The plane's crew was warmly received by airport staff, who organized a tea party to mark their arrival. Journalists were also given a tour of the cargo aircraft by its crew. 

Upul Kalansuriya, Manager of MRIA, told the media that having such large aircraft land at the airport will bring much needed foreign revenue to the country, adding that this particular trip alone had resulted in the airport earning some Rs.15 million. 

Text and Pix by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi in Hambantota 

 

 

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