In November 1911, an aircraft that was trying the establish the record for the first flight over Ceylon, hit the Old Royal College Building when it was under construction. The aircraft landed and later reattempted the record.[1][2]
1950s
February 19, 1954, a De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk of the Ceylon Air Academy took off from Ratmalana Airport on a solo flight crashed into the sea. Despite an extensive search, no trace of the aircraft or its pilot was ever found.[3]
1960s
On February 1, 1960, a Jet Provost of the Royal Ceylon Air Force preparing for the fly past on Independence Day flamed out shortly after take-off. The pilot ejected safely and the plane crashed into the Negombo Lagoon.[4]
January 17, 1966, A Jet provost crashed into the coconut trees surrounding Katunayake airport, killing its pilot Flt Sgt Shaheer Sally.[5]
1970s
April 12, 1971, a Jet Provost of the Royal Ceylon Air Force crashed in Trincomalee killing its pilot.[6][4]
November 15, 1978, the Icelandic Airlines Flight 001 a Douglas DC-8 crash on approach to Colombo International Airport, killed 8 of the 13 Icelandic crew members, 5 reserve crew members and 170 (mostly Indonesian) out of a total of 262 passengers and crew.
December 4, 1974 the Martinair Flight 138, a Douglas DC-8 crash into a mountain on approach to Colombo International Airport, killing all 191 people aboard.
1980s
On May 3, 1986 Air Lanka Flight 512 which was a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar that was about to depart to Maldives, having been delayed, when it was ripped in two by a bomb placed by the LTTE in the 'Fly Away Kit', killing 21 people and wounding 41.[7]
On 16 September 2000, a Mil Mi-17 helicopter crashed on Bible Rock, killing all 17 passengers and crew, including M. H. M. Ashraff, Minister of Shipping, Ports and Rehabilitation.[15]
In June 2004, a MiG-27 crashed into the sea near the Colombo International Airport.[4]
On October 22, 2007 a raid on SLAF Anuradhapura by LTTE resulted in 8 SLAF aircraft destroyed on the ground and another 10 damaged. A SLAF Bell 212 that was deployed for air defense during the attack crashed due to mechanical problems killing its crew.[4]
On 1 March 2011 two SLAF IAI Kfirs on rehearsal for a fly past resulted in a mid air collision. Pilots of both aircraft ejected but one of the pilots were killed.[19][20]
On 13 February 2012 a SLAF MiG 27 crashed in Dummalasuriya area in Puttlam while on a routine training flight, pilot managed to eject from the jet without sustaining injuries.[21][22][23]
On 12 December 2014, a Sri Lankan Air Force, An-32 transport aircraft carrying 5 people crashed on approach to land at the Ratmalana Airport after taking off from Katunayaka Bandaranayake International Airport. The pilot, co-pilot and two of the air crew were killed in the crash and the fifth crew member suffered critical injuries and later died of his injuries.[24]
29 May 2017: A Mil Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Baddegama during rescue and relief operations. All crew members survived, unhurt.[26]
2020s
On 03 January 2020, a Sri Lankan Air Force, Harbin Y-12 aircraft crashed on a surveillance mission impacted mountainous terrain near Haputale, Sri Lanka. All four occupants died in the crash. One person on the ground was injured as a result of the crash.[27][28]
On 15 December 2020, a Sri Lankan Air Force, PT-6 trainer aircraft crashed during a solo training flight after losing contact with ATC. The pilot was proclaimed that he had succumbed to injuries sustained during the crash.[29][30][31]
27 April 2022: A Bell 206 was involved in an accident at Hingurakgoda Airport. The pilot was unhurt and the helicopter was heavily damaged.[32]
On 07 August 2023, a Sri Lankan Air Force, PT-6 trainer aircraft crashed during a training flight two minutes after taking off from the air force academy at China Bay base in the eastern city of Trincomalee.Both pilot and flight engineer were killed in the crash.[33][34][35]
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