A SriLankan Airlines pilot has managed to avert a catastrophic mid-air disaster.
Flight UL504 was returning to Colombo last afternoon from Heathrow Airport, London with 275 passengers on board at an altitude of 30,000 feet.
The plane was flying in Turkish airspace when Turkish air traffic controllers ordered for it to be raised to 35,000 feet.
However, a Sri Lankan pilot informed Turkish air traffic controller that a British Airways flight from London to Singapore was flying at the same altitude.
Despite the communication, the Turkish air traffic controller have repeatedly informed that there was no flight at the specified altitude on their radar screen and that the SriLankan flight should be raised to an altitude of 35,000 feet.
The Sri Lankan pilot has reiterated that Turkish control should check their radar screen again.
A few minutes later, the Turkish air traffic controller contacted the SriLankan pilot and informed him not to raise altitude as there was a British Airways flight at 35,000 feet.
Experts in the field point out that the two aeroplanes would have collided and caused massive damage, if the Sri Lankan pilot lifted the aircraft, as ordered by Turkish Officials.
