Colombo — An Airbus A321neo belonging to Sri Lankan Airlines that was travelling to Kuwait experienced technical difficulties and was turned back to Bandaranaike International Airport shortly after departing at night on Thursday. The flight number was UL229, and the serial number of the aircraft is 4R-AND. The aircraft successfully landed at Bandaranaike and has now been moved to a holding position on the airport tarmac for inspection by Sri Lankan Airlines’ engineering team. The incident did not result in any injuries, nor did it disrupt the airport’s ongoing operations. The emergency return of this aircraft to Bandaranaike International Airport is classified as “turnback or return to field”.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka stated that they kept a close watch over this situation with guidance from the Director General of Civil Aviation as well as the Chief Executive Officer of the airline and utilised standard operating procedures for safety monitoring until technical checks could be conducted at a later time. The aircraft was stopped at a predetermined area of the apron where ground engineers could begin diagnostics without impeding the flow of traffic at that time.
A calm crew response and excellent communication with passengers meant that there was little panic on board. While technical turnbacks are certainly newsworthy, the first thing that aviation experts will highlight is that they show that the safety systems are doing their job correctly. Pilots and operators are trained to be cautious when they see a discrepancy in their instruments or aircraft performance. In this incident, Sri Lankan Airlines worked with the Civil Aviation Authority quickly to minimise the inconvenience for passengers and reduce any immediate danger to their safety.
The aircraft involved, an A321neo, is part of a modern family of single-aisle aircraft, known for their fuel efficiency and long-range capabilities. The A321neo incorporates the latest technology in engines and design features, such as sharklet winglets, that contribute to an approximate 20% reduction in COâ‚‚ emissions and fuel consumption per passenger seat compared to earlier A321 models, while allowing for the comfort of operating on medium-haul routes. Due to their efficiency and operational capabilities, the A321neo has rapidly become one of the most popular narrow-bodied aircraft in recent years.
Three steps are usually taken in accordance with standard aviation procedures after returning to the departure point: A grounded inspection, the isolation of faults found during inspection and the execution of repairs depending on the findings or the replacement of aircraft in order for the operator to continue their operation. Ground crews use detailed Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting and Maintenance Management Plans (ARFF) detailing how and where to park the aircraft after landing as well as the procedures used to check systems, ensuring that the aircraft and all passengers and the airport environment are secure while troubleshooting.
All pilots go through significant training on time-critical decision-making (TCDM) procedures, both at and above 5,000 feet in altitude while manoeuvring through their climb to cruise, as this is the time during which the aircraft is at the highest risk for specific failures. Aviation regulations list many considerations that should factor into the decision to attempt a return flight in a timely manner, including: The altitude at which the failure of the engine took place (should it occur at or below 4,000 feet); the aircraft configuration created prior to engine failure; the weather at departure and destination; and the availability of engine performance, if applicable. In the cases of larger aircraft such as the A321neo and commercial airlines with extensive support staff, flight crews and dispatch have been provided with numerous tools used to evaluate the likelihood of the aircraft safely returning to the departure point or base.
The passengers of UL229 most likely will view the aircraft’s return to the airport as an inconvenience versus a crisis, as there were no injuries reported, the aircraft was taken to a designated area, and Sri Lankan Airlines stated that there were no external effects on the operation of the airport. Aviation investigators and maintenance crews will now inspect the aircraft to figure out exactly what caused the mechanical issue before allowing it to fly again. This inspection process is done to provide protection to future flights and to feed back lessons learnt into the airline’s maintenance and safety systems.
Such is the way that incidents like this reflect how well the commercial airline industry is set up to mitigate risks through various safeguards that include layers of technology and human processes to identify if something is amiss to mitigate it. The positive aspect for passengers is that returning to the airport is a function of a system working rather than a sign that it has failed.
