| A Srilankan Airlines Airbus A330-200, registration 4R-ALH performing flight UL-503 from Colombo (Sri Lanka) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was enroute at FL340 about 240nm northnorthwest of Colombo and about 80nm east of Kochi (India) over India, when the crew initiated an emergency descent to 10,000 feet reporting a cracked windshield. The aircraft returned to Colombo for a safe landing on runway 04 about one hour after leaving FL340. The airline reported the middle layer of the 3-layer windshield cracked, in accordance with manufacturer procedures the crew therefore descended the aircraft to 10,000 feet to minimize the pressure differential on the windshield. The airline stated that allegations, the crew had lost control of the aircraft and nose dived the aircraft, were untrue, the crew followed standard procedures. Passenger Alex reported the whole windscreen had cracked, however, security at Colombo did not permit him to take photos. The captain told passengers the windscreen could have gone off and cockpit crew therefore donned their oxygen masks. It became noticeably cold on the aircraft about 15 minutes prior to landing. Fellow passengers commented that there was fuel leaking from the aircraft after landing, the captain said they had used special procedures to reduce fuel and thus landing weight. The very same windshield had been replaced prior to departure causing a delay of about 30-40 minutes prior to first departure. The cracked windscreen (Passenger Photo: Adam): |
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