Incident Overview
On 3 May 1986, Air Lanka Flight 512, a scheduled passenger service from London Gatwick Airport to Colombo and Malé via Zurich and Dubai, was on the ground at Colombo (Bandaranaike International Airport) preparing for the onward leg to Malé, Maldives, when an explosion ripped the aircraft in two, destroying it.
Aircraft and Occupants
The aircraft involved was a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar. The flight carried mainly French, West German, British, and Japanese tourists. Among the 21 people killed were 3 Britons, 2 West Germans, 3 French, 2 Japanese, 2 Maldivians, and 1 Pakistani. An additional 41 people were injured.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft was on the ground at Colombo, about to depart for Malé, when the explosion occurred. The force of the blast tore the airliner into two sections, resulting in its complete destruction.
Casualties
A total of 21 persons lost their lives, and 41 sustained injuries. The deceased included nationals of several countries, reflecting the international composition of the passenger load.