List of aviation accidents and incidents in Sri Lanka explained

This article lists some of the aviation accidents and incidents in Sri Lanka from the 1910s to the 2020s.

1910s

• In November 1911, an aircraft that was trying the establish the record for the first flight over Ceylon, hit the Old Royal College Building when it was under construction. The aircraft landed and later reattempted the record.^{[1] [2]}

1950s

• February 19, 1954, a De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk of the Ceylon Air Academy took off from Ratmalana Airport on a solo flight crashed into the sea. Despite an extensive search, no trace of the aircraft or its pilot was ever found.^[3]

1960s

• On February 1, 1960, a Jet Provost of the Royal Ceylon Air Force preparing for the fly past on Independence Day flamed out shortly after take-off. The pilot ejected safely and the plane crashed into the Negombo Lagoon.^[4]
• January 17, 1966, A Jet provost crashed into the coconut trees surrounding Katunayake airport, killing its pilot Flt Sgt Shaheer Sally.^[5]

1970s

• April 12, 1971, a Jet Provost of the Royal Ceylon Air Force crashed in Trincomalee killing its pilot.^{[6] [4]}
• November 15, 1978, the Icelandic Airlines Flight 001 a Douglas DC-8 crash on approach to Colombo International Airport, killed 8 of the 13 Icelandic crew members, 5 reserve crew members and 170 (mostly Indonesian) out of a total of 262 passengers and crew.
• December 4, 1974 the Martinair Flight 138, a Douglas DC-8 crash into a mountain on approach to Colombo International Airport, killing all 191 people aboard.

1980s

• On May 3, 1986 Air Lanka Flight 512 which was a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar that was about to depart to Maldives, having been delayed, when it was ripped in two by a bomb placed by the LTTE in the 'Fly Away Kit', killing 21 people and wounding 41.^[7]

1990s

• On September 13, 1990 a SLAF SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 was shot down by the LTTE due to AA fire; the pilot was killed.^[8]
• July 5, 1992 a SLAF Shaanxi Y-8 crashed in Iyakatchitchy en route to Palay kill all 20 on board, LTTE claimed to have shot it down.^[8]
• On July 14, 1992 a SLAF SIAI-Marchetti SF.260TP was shot down by LTTE; the pilot was killed.^[8]
• On October 13, 1992 a SLAF FMA IA 58 Pucará crashed near Jaffna.^[8]
• On April 28, 1995 a SLAF Avro 748 was shot down by the LTTE using a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) killing all 51 crew and passengers.^{[9] [10]}
• On April 29, 1995 a second SLAF Avro 748 was shot down by the LTTE using a MANPADS killing all 54 crew and passengers.^{[9] [10]}
• On July 14, 1995, a SLAF FMA IA 58 Pucará was shot down by the LTTE using a MANPADS during fierce fighting in the Northern Province, near Jaffna, killing its pilot.^{[11] [12] [13]}
• On September 13, 1995 an Antonov An-32 was missed, killing all 7 crew and 78 passengers.
• On September 29, 1998 an Antonov An-24RV operating as Lionair Flight 602 was shot down by the LTTE using a MANPADS, killing all 7 crew and 48 passengers.

2000s

• In August 2000, a Sri Lanka Air Force MiG-27 crashed near Colombo International Airport, killing its Ukrainian pilot.^[4]
• 16 September 2000: a Mil Mi-17 helicopter crashed on Bible Rock, killing all 17 passengers and crew, including M. H. M. Ashraff, Minister of Shipping, Ports and Rehabilitation.^[14]
• An LTTE attack on July 24, 2001 on the ground attack on the Colombo International Airport, resulted in destruction 8 SLAF aircraft and 3 Sri Lankan Airlines Airbus A330s and Airbus A340s.^[4]
• In June 2004, a MiG-27 crashed into the sea near the Colombo International Airport.^[4]
• On October 22, 2007 a raid on SLAF Anuradhapura by LTTE resulted in 8 SLAF aircraft destroyed on the ground and another 10 damaged. A SLAF Bell 212 that was deployed for air defense during the attack crashed due to mechanical problems killing its crew.^[4]
• 27 November 2009: A Mil Mi-24 crashed in Buttala in the Monaragala district killing all 4 on board.^{[15] [16] [17]}

2010s

• On 1 March 2011 two SLAF IAI Kfirs on rehearsal for a fly past resulted in a mid air collision. Pilots of both aircraft ejected but one of the pilots were killed.^{[18] [19]}
• On 13 February 2012 a SLAF MiG 27 crashed in Dummalasuriya area in Puttlam while on a routine training flight, pilot managed to eject from the jet without sustaining injuries.^{[20] [21] [22]}
• On 12 December 2014, a Sri Lankan Air Force, An-32 transport aircraft carrying 5 people crashed on approach to land at the Ratmalana Airport after taking off from Katunayaka Bandaranayake International Airport. The pilot, co-pilot and two of the air crew were killed in the crash and the fifth crew member suffered critical injuries and later died of his injuries.^[23]
• 25 May 2016: A Bell 206 crashed at Hingurakgoda Airport. The pilot survived.^[24]
• 29 May 2017: A Mil Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Baddegama during rescue and relief operations. All crew members survived, unhurt.^[25]

2020s

• On 03 January 2020, a Sri Lankan Air Force, Harbin Y-12 aircraft crashed on a surveillance mission impacted mountainous terrain near Haputale, Sri Lanka. All four occupants died in the crash. One person on the ground was injured as a result of the crash.^{[26] [27]}
• On 15 December 2020, a Sri Lankan Air Force, PT-6 trainer aircraft crashed during a solo training flight after losing contact with ATC. The pilot was proclaimed that he had succumbed to injuries sustained during the crash.^{[28] [29] [30]}
• 27 April 2022: A Bell 206 was involved in an accident at Hingurakgoda Airport. The pilot was unhurt and the helicopter was heavily damaged.^[31]
• On 07 August 2023, a Sri Lankan Air Force, PT-6 trainer aircraft crashed during a training flight two minutes after taking off from the air force academy at China Bay base in the eastern city of Trincomalee.Both pilot and flight engineer were killed in the crash.^{[32] [33] [34]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Conquering the skies.
2. Web site: Ceylon's first flights .
3. News: Thiedeman . Roger . 2004 . Young pilot's last flight remembered 50 years later,Death dive into the sea . .
4. Web site: Chronological Listing of Ceylonese / Sri-Lanka . 2014-12-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150503204252/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Country-By-Country/Sri_Lanka.htm . 2015-05-03 . dead .
5. Web site: Accident Hunting Jet Provost T51 CJ7** . 2023-11-30 . www.aviation-safety.net.
6. Web site: Craft followed craft until they flew no more . 2023-11-30.
7. Web site: Commercial Airline Bombing History. aerospaceweb.org. 10 September 2014.
8. Web site: Sri Lanka, since 1971. ACIG Journal. 29 October 2003. 30 October 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081003013212/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_336.shtml. 3 October 2008. dead.
9. http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/20/spice01.asp Heroes who made the supreme sacrifice
10. http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=80180 US powered Israeli jets enhance SLAF capability
11. Web site: Secessionists Down Sri Lanka Fighter; Thousands Flee Battles . New York Times . 14 July 1995.
12. http://www.island.lk/2006/08/26/features2.html LTTE move to wipe out SLAF revealed
13. Web site: Bravery . 2014-12-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141216195233/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/03/23/mag01.asp . 2014-12-16 . live .
14. News: Attygalle . Anusha . 16 September 2000 . Sri Lankan minister killed in chopper crash . .
15. Web site: Accident Mil Mi-24P SAH-4412 . 2023-11-30 . aviation-safety.net.
16. News: Wickremasekera . Damith . Buttala crash: High-level probe on what went wrong . 27 November 2024 . sundaytimes.lk . 29 November 2009.
17. Web site: MI-24 ATTACK HELICOPTER CRASHES DURING TRAINING MISSION (UPDATED) . airforce.lk . . 27 November 2024.
18. Web site: Accident IAI Kfir C2 SFM-5201 . 2023-11-28 . www.aviation-safety.net.
19. http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11/Mar02_1299077909KA.php Sri Lanka Air Force temporarily suspends flying of Kfirs following crash of two jets
20. News: 14 February 2012 . MiG-27 crashes in Dummalasuriya . Adaderana .
21. Web site: Incident Mikoyan MiG-27M SFS-731 . 2023-11-28 . www.aviation-safety.net.
22. http://www.dailymirror.lk/16756/kafir-jet-crashes MiG 27 jet crashes
23. News: Plane crash in Athurugiriya . . 12 December 2014 . 12 December 2014.
24. Web site: Incident Bell 206A SHT-551 . 2023-11-30 . aviation-safety.net.
25. Web site: Mi-17 helicopter to be removed from service - Breaking News Daily Mirror . https://web.archive.org/web/20170608105331/http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Mi-helicopter-to-be-removed-from-service-130296.html#sthash.7uvHaKH8.dpuf . 2017-06-08 . 2023-11-30 . www.dailymirror.lk . English.
26. Web site: Abeyratne . Dharma Sri . Four SLAF personnel killed in aircraft crash at Haputale . 2023-11-28 . Daily News . en.
27. Web site: Jan 3, 2020 . SLAF aircraft crashes in Haputale killing four including pilot . 2023-11-28 . Colombo Page.
28. Web site: Nathaniel . Camelia . SLAF trainer aircraft crashes, trainee pilot dies in Kantale . 2023-11-30 . Daily News . en.
29. Web site: Accident Nanchang PT-6A SBT-197 . 2023-11-30 . www.aviation-safety.net.
30. News: 15 December 2020 . SLAF PT-6 CRASH IN KANTALE . .
31. Web site: Incident Bell 206A SHT-552 . 2023-11-30 . aviation-safety.net.
32. News: August 7, 2023 . crashes, killing pilot and flight engineer . 1 . .
33. News: August 7, 2023 . Two dead after training aircraft crashes near China Bay . 1 . Ada Derana .
34. News: August 7, 2023 . PT-6 CRASH IN CHINA BAY . .