Air Force Media Spokesperson Group Captain Eranda Geeganage said that the cause of the Lunuwila helicopter crash could be a technical fault.
He further said that the helicopter crashed while the pilot was attempting to land it in Gin Oya to save the people on the bridge at that location.
Wing Commander Nirmal Siyambalapitiya, who died in this accident, was a skilled pilot with more than 20 years of service and more than 3000 flight hours.
He was flying the aircraft to Lunuwila, Wennappuwa to provide food to the people who were in distress at that location and then to another location, but due to a sudden technical fault, he was trying to land the Bell 212 helicopter in Gin Oya, a safe place, without harming the people gathered there, and the accident may have cost him his life, the Air Force Media Spokesperson further said.
He also said that the Air Force Commander has appointed a committee of 9 officers including a senior officer to investigate the accident.
Wing Commander Nirmal Siyambalapitiya, an alumnus of Joseph’s College, Wennappuwa, is a resident of Kirimatiyana, Thulawala, Wennappuwa.
A Master of Arts in International Relations, International Relations and Affairs graduate from the University of Colombo, Nirmal joined London Metropolitan University for his further education and pursued a Master of Science degree in Aviation/Airway Management and Operation. Thereafter, Nirmal has also completed an MSc degree from the same university.