What happened
On its scheduled route from Anuradhapura to Jaffna-Palaly Airport, a military aircraft operated by the Sri Lanka Air Force was intercepted during the final phase of its flight. While the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet on final approach, it was struck by a surface-to-air missile. The impact triggered a massive explosion, causing the aircraft to crash.
There were no survivors of the incident. The crash resulted in 52 fatalities, including a diverse group of passengers and personnel. The deceased included 44 members of the military, two police officers, three members of the press, and three crew members.
Findings
Investigations into the destruction of the aircraft confirmed that the primary factor in the loss of the aircraft and all lives on board was the impact of a surface-to-air missile during the approach to the airfield.