SLAF aircraft crashes, four airmen killed

CCTV footage of a nearby house captured the visual of aircraft, few minutes before the crash

• CCTV footage of a nearby house captured the visual of aircraft, few minutes before the crash

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya, Chaturanga Samarawickrama and Prasanna Padmasiri  

Four airmen were killed when a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Y-12 aircraft crashed in Haputale yesterday morning, Air Force Spokesman Group Captain Gihan Seneviratne said. 

• The aircraft took off from Weerawila
• Two pilots, two crew members on board
• Woman in nearby house suffers from shock

The Y-12 Fixed Wing Light Transport aircraft took off from Weerawila on a routine air reconnaissance mission when it crashed at Thambipeella at 9:15 a.m.. killing the the two pilots and two crew members on board.  

Several teams of air force personnel were rushed to the scene of the crash to carry out investigations into the tragedy while the Air Force Commander had instructed that a committee be appointed as well for this purpose. 

Police said a woman who was in a house close to the area where the aircraft crashed was admitted to the Haputale Hospital suffering from shock.  

Squadron Leader W.A.M.B.N.B. Weebedda and Flight Lieutenant K.M.D.L. Kulathunga, supporting staff members Sergeant D.W.R.W. Kumara and L.A.C. Hettiarachchi were among those killed in the crash.