A Sri Lankan military helicopter crashed into a reservoir northeast of Colombo on Friday, killing six personnel in one of the country’s deadliest aviation incidents in recent years, according to Air Force official.
A Bell 212 helicopter, carrying 12 army and air force members, plunged into Maduru Oya reservoir during a routine flight to a military ceremony, officials confirmed.
Air Force Spokesperson Group Captain Eranda Geeganage stated all passengers were retrieved alive from the wreckage, 280 kilometres (175 miles) from the capital, but six people died later in a hospital.
The helicopter was assigned to conduct a grappling exercise at a passing-out parade. Four special forces personnel and two Air Force gunmen died of their injuries.
Geeganage declined to provide possible causes of the crash.
