A Turkish Airlines flight bound for Istanbul returned safely to Bandaranaike International Airport(BIA) early today(17) after a technical fault, airport officials said. 

Flight TK733, carrying 202 passengers and 10 crew, departed at 10.00 p.m. last night before the pilot detected a problem with the landing gear shortly after take-off. 

The Airbus A330 flew over the sea off Chilaw for more than two hours to jettison fuel before landing safely at 12.17 a.m. 

Emergency services were on standby, and passengers were later taken to nearby hotels.