An Air Force Pilot and Engineer died in a crash of a light aircraft used for training, at the Air Force Academy at China Bay Air Force base.
The aircraft crashed at an angle of 180 degrees less than two minutes after taking off from the airstrip yesterday (07).
The Pilot has contributed to the war on terrorism actively by taking enemy targets in a most excellent manner during the last war.
MiG 27 fighter plane piloted by this pilot crashed in the Dummalasuriya region, but he saved his life with the help of a parachute to contribute to the war and save the country.
Wing Commander Tharindu Herath and Air Force Engineer Flying Officer Madusanke Warnakulasooriya who were on board died following the crash.
Sri Lanka Air Force announced that the aircraft a PT-6 which crashed was utilized by the Air Force Training Academy in China Bay for the Number 1 Flying Wing Training Unit Pilots.
It has been revealed during the initial investigations that the aircraft which had flown over the Trincomalee Air Force Training Academy had crashed onto the grounds of the Air Force Base in China Bay, two minutes after it took off.
Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa has appointed a special committee to inquire into the crash.
Wing Commander Herath is a past pupil of Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala and a father of three. Herath had joined the SLAF in 2006. Flying Officer Warnakulasooriya is an old boy of St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala.
According to hospital sources, the accident took place during a test flight after the aircraft was repaired and the Pilot and the Air Force Engineer were declared dead on arrival to the Trincomalee General Hospital.
Pilot and engineer died instantaneously
An Air Force Pilot and Engineer died in a crash of a light aircraft used for training, at the Air Force Academy at China Bay Air Force base.
The aircraft crashed at an angle of 180 degrees less than two minutes after taking off from the airstrip yesterday (07).
The Pilot has contributed to the war on terrorism actively by taking enemy targets in a most excellent manner during the last war.
MiG 27 fighter plane piloted by this pilot crashed in the Dummalasuriya region, but he saved his life with the help of a parachute to contribute to the war and save the country.
Wing Commander Tharindu Herath and Air Force Engineer Flying Officer Madusanke Warnakulasooriya who were on board died following the crash.
Sri Lanka Air Force announced that the aircraft a PT-6 which crashed was utilized by the Air Force Training Academy in China Bay for the Number 1 Flying Wing Training Unit Pilots.
It has been revealed during the initial investigations that the aircraft which had flown over the Trincomalee Air Force Training Academy had crashed onto the grounds of the Air Force Base in China Bay, two minutes after it took off.
Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa has appointed a special committee to inquire into the crash.
Wing Commander Herath is a past pupil of Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala and a father of three. Herath had joined the SLAF in 2006. Flying Officer Warnakulasooriya is an old boy of St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala.
According to hospital sources, the accident took place during a test flight after the aircraft was repaired and the Pilot and the Air Force Engineer were declared dead on arrival to the Trincomalee General Hospital.