A flight carrying 207 passengers and 16 crew members has been struck by lightning mid air. Passengers on the SriLankan Airlines flight UL606, bound for Sydney, heard a loud bang and saw a brief flash of flame from one of the engines when the incident happened on Wednesday.

Pilots quickly stabilised the aircraft before deciding to turn back as a precaution. The Airbus landed safely at Bandaranaike International Airport at around 1:40am, with passengers remaining onboard while next steps were arranged.

SriLankan Airlines later issued a statement describing the event as an "operational incident amid adverse weather". It added that safety procedures were followed and no injuries were recorded.

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