Latest news with #MaduruOya
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter crashes, killing six
May 9 (UPI) -- A military helicopter crashed in central Sri Lanka on Friday, killing six military personnel, the nation's air force said. The Bell 212 helicopter crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir during a demonstration for the Special Forces' passing-out ceremony, according to the Sri Lanka Air Force, which said in a brief statement that "six personnel lost their lives following the incident." "The Commander of the AF has appointed a special nine-member committee to conduct a detailed investigation," it said. It was unclear how many people were aboard the aircraft though initial local reports state that there were 12 personnel. The deceased have been identified in local media as two gunners and four Special Forces members. Maduru Oya is located about 174 miles northeast of Colombo. This is a developing story.
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.
Asharq Al-Awsat
09-05-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Helicopter Crash in Sri Lanka Kills Six Military Personnel
A helicopter crash in Sri Lanka has killed six military personnel, an Air Force official said on Friday. A Bell 212 helicopter had crashed into the Maduru Oya reservoir in central Sri Lanka with a dozen armed forces personnel on board. Six died after they were rescued and rushed to hospital, Sri Lanka Air Force spokesman Group Captain Eranda Geeganage said. "The helicopter was assigned to conduct a grappling exercise at a passing-out parade. Four special forces personnel and two Air Force gunmen died of their injuries," Geeganage told Reuters. He declined to give details on the possible reason for the crash.
The Independent
09-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Six dead after Sri Lankan military helicopter crashes during passing out ceremony
Six people have died after a military helicopter plunged into a reservoir in Sri Lanka. Air force spokesperson Eranda Geeganage said the Bell 212 helicopter was carrying 12 people from the army and air force to a military pass out event on Friday (May 9). The military helicopter plunged into a reservoir in Maduru Oya, some 280 kilometers (175 miles) northeast of the capital Colombo. All the passengers onboard were recovered alive and transported to hospital. Six people from the army and air force died later in a hospital, Geeganage said. "The helicopter was assigned to conduct a grappling exercise at a passing-out parade. Four special forces personnel and two Air Force gunmen died of their injuries," Geeganage told Reuters. The reason for the crash in the North Central Province of the country was not immediately known and an investigation into its cause is currently underway. Local media reports suggest twelve people, including two pilots, were on board at the time of the crash. A military official told AFP 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.
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.
