The recent crash of a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) aircraft was caused by pilot error during a training exercise, Minister of Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake confirmed.
Speaking on March 23, the Minister referenced an investigation report prepared by a specially appointed technical committee, which ruled out any mechanical issues with the aircraft.
Minister Rathnayake emphasized that the aircraft and its engines were in excellent condition, debunking concerns about outdated equipment. “Just because we allow old vehicles on the roads, we cannot apply the same logic to aircraft. This was a training session, and a mistake was made by the trainee pilots. Fortunately, the trainers survived,” he explained.
The crash occurred on March 21, when a K-8 training jet lost radar contact and crashed in Minuwangete, Wariyapola. Both trainee pilots safely ejected before the impact and landed near a school in Padeniya, Kurunegala. The Minister stressed that such incidents are not uncommon during training sessions worldwide.
He also reiterated that the technical committee’s report confirmed that the crash was solely due to human error and not related to any technical malfunction.
Minister Rathnayake made these remarks while on an inspection tour of the construction activities for the Central Expressway’s third phase, which spans from Pothuhera to Rambukkana.
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