Latest news with #SriLankanAirForce
Arab News
09-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
Sri Lanka helicopter crash kills six military personnel
COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter crashed during a graduation ceremony on Friday, plunging into a reservoir and killing six of the 12 people on board, a military official said. The personnel were preparing for a grappling demonstration when their Bell 212 careened into the reservoir at the Maduru Oya national park, the official told AFP. 'There were 12 people on board, and six of them survived with minor injuries,' said the official, who declined to be named. Those killed included four special forces commandos and two Air Force gunners. The survivors were admitted to hospital. The crash took place halfway through the ceremony in Maduru Oya, nearly 300 kilometers (187 miles) east of Colombo. After a slew of parades, the chopper crew were expected to perform a 'fast-roping' maneuver, showcasing their skills in descending from the helicopter while it hovered just above roof height. After the crash, the graduation ceremony was called off and an investigation into the cause of the incident was launched. 'The Commander of the Air Force has appointed a special nine-member committee to conduct a detailed investigation,' the military said in a statement. The Air Force operates a small fleet of Bell, Mi-17, and Mi-24 helicopters. Much of the Mi-24 attack helicopter fleet has been grounded since the end of the country's protracted Tamil separatist war in May 2009. Friday's tragedy is the worst for the Air Force since a Chinese-built Y-12 aircraft crashed at Haputale in January 2020, killing all four crew members on board. In September 2000, an Mi-17 helicopter crashed in central Sri Lanka, killing all 15 people on board — including the country's then top Muslim political leader — making it the worst helicopter crash in the island's history.
Daily Express
09-05-2025
- General
- Daily Express
Six killed in Sri Lanka helicopter crash: military
Published on: Friday, May 09, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 09, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: An ambulance transports victims of a helicopter crash, in Maduru Oya, east of capital Colombo on May 9, 2025. _ AFP pic COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter crashed on Friday, killing six of the 12 people on board, the military said. The personnel were taking part in a demonstration flight and preparing for a rope jump when their Bell 212 plunged into a lake at Maduru Oya, east of capital Colombo, a military official told AFP. They had been due to perform a 'fast-roping' manoeuvre during a graduation ceremony of Special Forces commandos, showcasing their skills at descending from the helicopter while it hovered above roof height. 'There were 12 people on board, and six of them survived with minor injuries,' the official said, saying those killed included four commandos and two Air Force gunners. The ceremony was called off, the official said, adding that an investigation into the cause of the incident was underway. Friday's tragedy is the worst for the air force since a Chinese-built Y-12 aircraft crashed at Haputale, 200 kilometres (125 miles) east of Colombo, in January 2020, killing all four crew members on board. In September 2000, an Mi-17 helicopter crashed in central Sri Lanka, killing all 15 people on board, making it the worst helicopter crash in the island's history. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
09-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Six killed in Sri Lanka helicopter crash: military
COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter crashed on Friday, killing six of the 12 people on board, the military said. The personnel were taking part in a demonstration flight and preparing for a rope jump when their Bell 212 plunged into a lake at Maduru Oya, east of capital Colombo, a military official told AFP. They had been due to perform a 'fast-roping' manoeuvre during a graduation ceremony of Special Forces commandos, showcasing their skills at descending from the helicopter while it hovered above roof height. 'There were 12 people on board, and six of them survived with minor injuries,' the official said, saying those killed included four commandos and two Air Force gunners. The ceremony was called off, the official said, adding that an investigation into the cause of the incident was underway. Friday's tragedy is the worst for the air force since a Chinese-built Y-12 aircraft crashed at Haputale, 200 kilometres (125 miles) east of Colombo, in January 2020, killing all four crew members on board. In September 2000, an Mi-17 helicopter crashed in central Sri Lanka, killing all 15 people on board, making it the worst helicopter crash in the island's history.
CNA
09-05-2025
- General
- CNA
Six killed in Sri Lanka helicopter crash: Military
COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter crashed on Friday (May 9), killing six of the 12 people on board, the military said. The personnel were taking part in a demonstration flight and preparing for a rope jump when their Bell 212 plunged into a lake at Maduru Oya, east of capital Colombo, a military official told AFP. They had been due to perform a "fast-roping" manoeuvre during a graduation ceremony of Special Forces commandos, showcasing their skills at descending from the helicopter while it hovered above roof height. "There were 12 people on board, and six of them survived with minor injuries," the official said, saying those killed included four commandos and two Air Force gunners. The ceremony was called off, the official said, adding that an investigation into the cause of the incident was underway. Friday's tragedy is the worst for the air force since a Chinese-built Y-12 aircraft crashed at Haputale, 200 kilometres (125 miles) east of Colombo, in January 2020, killing all four crew members on board. In September 2000, an Mi-17 helicopter crashed in central Sri Lanka, killing all 15 people on board, making it the worst helicopter crash in the island's history.
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Helicopter crash in Sri Lanka kills six
COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter crashed on Friday during a demonstration flight, killing six of the 12 personnel on board, the military confirmed. The incident occurred at Maduru Oya, east of the capital Colombo, when a Bell 212 helicopter plunged into a lake as part of preparations for a "fast-roping" manoeuvre—a display in which troops descend by rope from a hovering helicopter. The exercise was part of a graduation ceremony for Special Forces commandos. 'There were 12 people on board, and six survived with minor injuries,' a military official told AFP. Among the deceased were four commandos and two Air Force gunners. The ceremony was immediately called off, and an investigation into the cause of the crash is currently underway. This marks the deadliest air force incident since January 2020, when a Chinese-built Y-12 aircraft crashed in Haputale, around 200 kilometers east of Colombo, killing all four crew members. The most fatal helicopter crash in Sri Lanka's history occurred in September 2000, when an Mi-17 helicopter went down in central Sri Lanka, killing all 15 people on board.
