Kite strings snare SLAF aircraft, prompting aviation safety warning

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has issued an urgent warning to the public after a training aircraft faced serious danger from kite strings near Ratmalana Airport today. A Y‑12 aircraft engaged in training flights was forced to land after kite strings became entangled in its systems. According to SLAF, subsequent inspection revealed large amounts of string caught in the left wheel, left engine area, and several other parts, highlighting the severe risk posed to aviation safety. Issuing a statement, SLAF stressed that kite flying near airports and runways is a direct obstruction to aircraft operations and has been identified globally as a cause of aviation accidents. In Sri Lanka, the risk has escalated around runways in Katunayake, Ratmalana, Hingurakgoda, China Bay, Anuradhapura, Palali, Katukurunda, Koggala, Vavuniya, Weerawila, and Mattala. SLAF warned that if kite strings or fragments enter an aircraft’s engine or operating systems, the entire aircraft could face catastrophic failure, with high potential for loss of life and property. To ensure aviation safety and protect passenger lives, residents living near airports and runways have been strongly urged to refrain from flying kites in such zones. (Newswire)