SriLankan Airlines: Mid-air emergency forces international flight back to Melbourne

An international flight was forced to return to Australia after reports of smoke in the cockpit shortly after takeoff.

SriLankan Airlines Flight UL605, which was bound for Colombo, left Melbourne airport just after 6.30pm (AEST) on Monday evening.

But reports of smoke in the cockpit forced the pilot to declare an emergency and return to Victoria Travel conversation.

The broadcast of the squad code 7700, which signals an emergency, made the flight the most followed flight in the world, with almost 10,000 people following it on FlightRadar24.com (photo: the plane’s flight path)

The broadcast of the squad code 7700, which indicates an emergency, made the flight the most followed flight in the world, with almost 10,000 people following it on FlightRadar24.com.

The airline said it had identified a ‘technical problem’.

“All passengers on board disembarked safely,” SriLankan Airlines said 7NEWS.com.au.

“A team of technicians are currently assessing the aircraft and providing technical support.”

The aircraft was met by emergency services upon landing.