A tragic helicopter crash in Sri Lanka has resulted in the deaths of six military personnel, a Sri Lanka Air Force official confirmed on Friday. The incident involved a Bell 212 helicopter, which crashed into the Maduru Oya reservoir in the central region of Sri Lanka.
The Bell 212 helicopter was carrying a total of twelve armed forces personnel when it crashed into the Maduru Oya reservoir. Following the crash, a rescue operation was launched, and all twelve individuals were recovered and rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Tragically, despite the swift rescue efforts, six of the twelve personnel on board the Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter succumbed to their injuries while receiving hospital treatment. The deceased include four special forces personnel and two Air Force gunmen, according to Sri Lanka Air Force spokesman Group Captain Eranda Geeganage.
The Captain told Reuters that the helicopter had been specifically assigned to conduct a grappling exercise as part of a passing-out parade for military personnel. The fatal helicopter crash occurred during preparations for this demonstration.
Sri Lanka Helicopter Crash Now Under Investigation
Group Captain Eranda Geeganage declined to provide any details regarding the potential cause of the helicopter crash. He stated that the Sri Lanka Air Force will be conducting a thorough investigation to determine the reasons behind this tragic incident that resulted in the loss of six military lives.
