Second PT6 crash in three years.

A training aircraft from the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) crashed at the SLAF Academy China Bay claiming the lives of two SLAF personnel.

The aircraft, designated as a PT 6 type—an export version of the Nanchang CJ-6A—is primarily utilised for training operations under the No. 1 Flying Training Wing stationed at SLAF China Bay. This unit plays a crucial role in providing fundamental pilot training for the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The aircraft's ill-fated test flight commenced earlier today (7) at approximately 11:25 am, taking off from China Bay. According to SLAF, the aircraft crashed just two minutes after takeoff, around 11:27 am. The incident resulted in the unfortunate loss of both the pilot and the engineering officer, who was on air inspection duty during the flight.

In response to this incident, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, Commander of the Air Force, has taken swift action by initiating an air crash investigation. The objective is to uncover the underlying causes of the crash and to ensure that such incidents are thoroughly examined to prevent future recurrences.

This incident also brings attention to a similar event that transpired three years ago in 2020, involving a comparable aircraft operated by the No. 1 Flying Training Wing at China Bay. In that case, an officer cadet flying solo was at the helm when the aircraft crashed in Kantale. This previous incident led to a temporary grounding of all aircraft of the same model as a precautionary measure.

The recurrence of a similar incident highlights the need for comprehensive investigations to identify potential patterns or contributing factors.