Colombo:
SriLankan Airlines flight UL-504 was en route from London to Colombo, Sri Lanka. It carried 275 passengers. The plane was in danger of colliding head-on with a British Airways flight in Turkish airspace, but was reportedly averted by SriLankan Airlines pilots.
SriLankan Airlines appreciates the timely action taken by the pilots and ensures the safety of all passengers and staff.
The Sri Lankan aircraft, which was flying at an altitude of 33,000 feet, was told by the Ankara Ground Control Station to increase its flying altitude to 35,000 feet. At that time, the pilots of the Sri Lankan aircraft spotted the British Airways plane flying at an altitude of 35,000 feet 15 miles away. The air traffic control room in Ankara has been informed about this.
The Sri Lankan pilots refused to lift the plane despite two misinformation from the Ankara air traffic control room.
A few minutes later, an emergency message was sent from the air traffic control room. The SriLankan Airlines flight was told not to board as the British Airways flight to Dubai was already flying above 35,000 feet.
According to reports from the control room, the captain of the SriLankan aircraft would have crashed in mid-flight with a fast-approaching British Airways plane if it had been raised to a certain altitude.