Two SriLankan Airlines flights that were forced to circle in the air for more than an hour due to the closure of airspace amid a sudden escalation of the war situation in the Middle East have safely landed.

SriLankan Airlines Head of Corporate Communications Deepal Perera said the two flights, which were heading to Kuwait and Dammam, had to remain in the air near the region after the relevant airspace was closed.

The pilots later managed to land the aircraft safely, and both flights returned to Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, by this morning (15).

SriLankan Airlines flight UL-229 departed from Katunayake for Kuwait International Airport yesterday (14) at 5.10 p.m., while flight UL-253 departed for Dammam International Airport at 6.36 p.m.

Both aircraft are Airbus A321neo models.