The co-pilot of the Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 aircraft that crashed into Gin Oya in Lunuwila, Wennappuwa on the 30th, Lieutenant Eranga Chamara Ekanayake, stated before court today (09) that he and the chief pilot realized that there was a mechanical fault in the aircraft.
While a Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter was carrying out relief operations to provide relief to the victims, it unfortunately crashed into Gin Oya in Lunuwila, Wennappuwa, and the chief pilot, Wing Commander Nirmal Siyambalapitiya, lost his life in the accident.
Giving evidence before the court, the co-pilot of the crashed helicopter, Lieutenant Eranga Chamara Ekanayake, said:
”On the 30th, at around 5 pm, we took off from the Katunayake Air Force Base in a Bell 212 helicopter to provide dry food to the victims, as per an order from the Sri Lanka Air Force. As the aircraft descended slightly from the sky above Wennappuwa, people on and around the Gin Oya bridge were waving their hands for help. It was not possible to land the aircraft on the bridge or on the road. This was due to the large number of people on the bridge and the presence of a high-voltage power line system nearby. However, we released a packet of dry food to the people who were waving their hands there. When we tried to land the aircraft at a suitable location, the Chief Pilot Nirmal Siyambalapitiya and I felt that there was a technical fault in the aircraft. As the chief pilot attempted to land safely, the aircraft suddenly crashed into the Gin Oya. After much effort, I and the three other air force personnel got out, removed the harness from the trapped chief pilot and quickly sent him to the Marawila Base Hospital.”
Considering the evidence presented, Marawila Magistrate Dinindu Samarasinghe instructed to further streamline the investigations and ordered the case to be recalled to inquire into the progress of the investigations.