CAASL investigates Cinnamon Air plane incident at Gregory Lake

Colombo, January 7 (Daily Mirror) - The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) has launched an investigation into an incident involving a Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft operated by Cinnamon Air, which attempted to land at the Gregory lake in Nuwara Eliya.

Director General and Chief Executive Officer of CAASL, Captain Daminda Rambukwella, said that the incident was reported today (7) at around 12.30 p.m. He confirmed that no injuries were reported and that the two pilots on board were unharmed. No damage was caused to any third party.

According to CAASL, the aircraft was operating a domestic flight to the Gregory Wewa Reservoir to pick up a group of passengers from Nuwara Eliya. Water-based flight operations at Gregory Wewa have been conducted for several years, and this is the first such incident reported during these operations.

Cinnamon Air acquired the Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft in 2013 and has continuously operated it in compliance with aviation regulations, renewing its Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Airworthiness with the approval of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka. The airline holds a valid Aircraft Operator Certificate and is authorized to conduct domestic air services within the country.

On the instructions of the line ministry, the Ministry of Ports and Aviation, an investigation team from the Civil Aviation Authority was immediately dispatched to the site, and a formal investigation has commenced, CAASL said.

Several institutions, including the Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Police, are assisting in the investigation.