Sri Lanka Airlines jet struck by lightning, makes emergency landing in Colombo

A Sri Lanka Airlines flight carrying 207 passengers to Sydney was forced to turn back and make an emergency landing in Colombo after being struck by lightning midair, the Daily Mail reported.

Passengers said they suddenly heard a loud explosion and felt the aircraft shake violently. A dramatic video recorded from inside the cabin showed sparks and visible flashes coming from the plane’s left engine near the windows.

The pilots responded quickly, declared an emergency, and safely returned the aircraft to Colombo. After landing, ground crews and technicians carried out an initial inspection and found that the engine had suffered severe damage from the direct lightning strike.

The incident ended without any injuries.