Lionair Flight 602

Lionair Flight 602
Occurrence summary
Date September 29, 1998
Type Shot down by LTTE [1]
Site off the cost of Mannar District, Sri Lanka
Passengers 48
Crew 7
Injuries 0
Fatalities 55 (all)
Survivors 0
Aircraft type Antonov An-24RV
Operator Air Lanka
Flight origin Kankesanturai Airport, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Destination Ratmalana Airport, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Lionair Flight 602 was a Lionair Antonov An-24RV which fell into the sea off the north-western coast of Sri Lanka. The aircraft departed Kankesanturai Airport with several high ranking military officials of the Sri Lankan Army on a flight to Colombo and disappeared from radar screens just after the pilot had reported depressurization. Initial reports indicated that the plane had been shot down by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels using MANPADS. All 7 crew and 48 passengers were killed.[2] Following the downing of Flight LN 602 all civil aviation between Colombo and Jaffna was suspended for many months by the Civil Aviation Authority.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b More than ever, Eelam seems a reality now, by Major General Ashok K Mehta
  2. ^ Criminal Occurrence description at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 2006-11-23.
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