Aircraft Shot Down Near Palaly Air Force Base (CR-871)

Incident Overview An aircraft was on final approach to Palaly Air Force Base in Jaffna after departing from Colombo. The aircraft was carrying six crew members and supply equipment at the time of the incident. During its final approach, the aircraft was struck by a 20 mm shell and subsequently crashed into the sea approximately 3 kilometers offshore. One crew member was rescued, while the other five occupants were killed. The official investigation attributed the incident to a shell fired by soldiers from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which shot down the aircraft. No specific aircraft type, registration, date, or operator was provided in the source material.