MI- 24  Gunship crashes in Trincomalee
[24 October 2000]

Yesterday, one of the two MI 24 helicopter gunships crashed into Koddiyar Bay around 10.30 am. This incident took place while the aircraft was trying to support the ground troops to launch an attack on suspected gun positions in Marble Beach, Kinniya in Trincomalee, 257 km. off Colombo city.

According to the information available, a pilot and two gunmen were aboard when the craft crashed. It is believed that the helicopter had fallen into the Upparu seas in Trincomalee where heavy fighting is going on. 

The security sources reported that the search operations have already commenced to locate the debris and that investigations would begin to ascertain whether the aircraft had been subjected to missile attacks.

So far the divers have not detected any sign of the wreckage. 

SLAF Chief of Staff, Air Vice Marshall Donald Perera said that the two MI-24 helicopters had been sent from Hingurakgoda airbase to assist the naval troops.

Meanwhile, a 23mm anti-aircraft gun which was probably used to bring down the Air Force MI-24 helicopter gunship, was destroyed by an Air Force MIG Fighter aircraft, the Military spokesman said. 

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