Aircraft crash: Govt. to launch in-depth probe

• Low-flying aircraft is said to have hit a hill 

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera  

State Minister of Defence, Chamal Rajapaksa said yesterday an in-depth investigation would be carried out into the crash of the Sri Lanka Air Force Y-12 aircraft at Haputale and that he would present a report in Parliament soon.   

He said the aircraft had left Weerawila airport for ground surveillance in the Eastern part of the country and that the preliminary investigations had revealed that the aircraft which was flying low had crashed into a hill.  The state minister said two pilots and two ground surveillance assistants were killed in the crash.  

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa expressed his condolence to the families of the deceased airmen. 

• The aircraft had left Weerawila airport for ground surveillance in the Eastern part of the country