Sri Lankan woman dies after emergency plane landing in Erbil

(Photo by Saif Zaman on Unsplash)
An 81-year-old Sri Lankan woman passed away following an emergency landing of a Qatar Airways flight at Erbil International Airport on Wednesday.
The incident was confirmed by Ahmed Jalal, Sri Lanka’s honorary consul in Erbil.
According to Jalal, the woman was on a flight from Doha to Paris when an emergency arose onboard. The pilot informed Erbil Airport and requested permission to land. The plane landed at 5:40 PM, and medical teams were dispatched to assist. Despite their efforts, the woman died onboard the aircraft.
The woman, who had been residing in France, suffered from health issues. The Sri Lankan consulate contacted her son, a French citizen, who has requested Kurdish authorities to assist in transporting his mother’s body to Paris.
“This is the first time such a case has happened,” Jalal stated.
The incident involved Qatar Airways, as reported by a Sri Lankan aviation news outlet. The airline has not yet commented on the matter.
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Six police officers arrested over alleged priest assault granted bail January 29, 2026
- Sri Lanka moves toward ‘Dream School’ system for all grades January 29, 2026
- ASP Rohan Olugala appointed Director of Walana Anti Corruption Unit January 29, 2026
- Sri Lanka launches five-year national action plan to combat human trafficking January 29, 2026
- Équité launches media guidelines to protect LGBTIQ+ rights in Sri Lanka January 28, 2026

