Incident Overview
An aircraft operating a flight from Anuradhapura to Jaffna-Palaly Airport on behalf of the Sri Lanka Air Force was shot down during its final approach. According to official reports, the aircraft was struck by a surface-to-air missile at an altitude of 3,000 feet, resulting in a massive explosion upon impact.
Casualties and Occupants
All 52 individuals on board were killed. The occupants comprised 44 soldiers, two policemen, three journalists, and three crew members.
Official Findings
The probable cause of the accident, as determined by the investigation, was that the aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired by Tamil separatists.