Air Force Y-12 crashes, four killed

Saturday, 4 January 2020 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Rescue workers inspect the wreckage of an Air Force plane that crashed in Haputale on 3 January. The plane crashed in the tea-growing mountainous region, killing the four crew on board, a military official said – AFP

Four crew members dead
Air Force says aircraft was on routine surveillance flight
Investigation panel to look into crash

A Sri Lanka Air Force Y-12 fixed wing light transport aircraft from No. 8 Squadron crashed near Haputale town yesterday, killing all crew members on board.

Two pilots and two observers were killed in the crash. According to the Police, no casualties have been reported on the ground. The air crash happened near a populated area, and debris from the crash had landed close to two houses.

According to the Air Force, the Chinese-built transport aircraft (Registration no SCL-857) had been on a routine surveillance flight to spot cannabis plantations for law enforcement. “An investigation panel has been appointed, made up of aviation experts, to look into the crash,” Air Force Spokesman Group Capt. Gihan Senevirathne told the Daily FT.

The Air Force did not wish to release the names of the four deceased service personnel until their families were formally notified.

The twin-engine light transport aircraft type has been in service with the Air Force since the mid-1980s, and saw extensive use during the Eelam wars, and was later used by the ‘Heli-Tours’ domestic commercial aviation branch of the SLAF.

During the recent past, questions have been raised as to why the SLAF is using Y-12 and other military aircrafts for civilian passenger transport operations, after the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) banned the type from being used in civilian passenger flights, having deemed the aircraft unfit for such operations.