| Image Upright: | 1.20 |
| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| Summary: | Mid-air collision |
| Site: | Yakkala, Gampaha, Sri Lanka |
| Total Fatalities: | 1 |
| Total Survivors: | 1 |
| Plane1 Type: | IAI Kfir C2 |
| Plane1 Tailnum: | SFM-5201 163 (MSN)[1] |
| Plane1 Origin: | Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka |
| Plane1 Fatalities: | 0 |
| Plane1 Survivors: | 1 |
| Plane2 Type: | IAI Kfir C2 |
| Plane2 Tailnum: | SFM-5202 161 (MSN)[2] |
| Plane2 Origin: | Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka |
| Plane2 Fatalities: | 1 |
| Plane2 Survivors: | 0 |
On 01 March 2011, two IAI Kfirs belonging to the No. 10 Squadron at SLAF Katunayake, collided near Yakkala, Gampaha approximately 19km (12miles) south-east of SLAF Katunayake, during a formation fight rehearsal.[3] [4]
The two Kfirs from No. 10 Squadron were conducting final rehearsals for the flypast scheduled for the next day, as part of the SLAF's 60th-anniversary celebrations, with their routine involving a low-flying circuit over the SLAF base at Ratmalana before returning to Katunayake on 01 March 2011, when they collided at 9.30 am (local time). The incident took place roughly 6km (04miles) off Yakkala.[5] [6]
Both pilots ejected from their aircraft. Squadron Leader Jayakody's parachute deployed successfully, allowing him to land safely in a paddy field. However, Flight Lieutenant Perera's parachute failed to open, and he tragically succumbed to injuries upon impacting a coconut tree.