Sri Lankan Air Force Harbin Yunshuji Y-12 II military plane crashed on a surveillance mission under unknown circumstances.
All four occupants died in the crash. One person on the ground was injured as a result of the crash.
The crash occurred in Haputale district about 124 miles east of the capital Colombo, said air force spokesman Capt. Gihan Seneviratne.
Two pilots and two other crew members were on the Chinese-built Y-12 aircraft, which was on an observation mission, Seneviratne said.
Haputale Air plane crash! pic.twitter.com/raFLI2e4Mx
— Dulith Kasun (@DulithK) January 3, 2020
It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the crash.
Sri Lanka Air Force spokesperson Group Captain Gihan Seneviratne said that the service has appointed a special investigation team to find the reasons behind the crash of the surveillance vehicle.
The Chinese-origin aircraft was on its way to Weeravila on a reconnaissance mission when it crashed.
The Chinese-origin light twin-engine Y-12 aircraft has the capability of operating from short, unprepared runways. The Sri Lankan Air Force has been operating the jet for surveillance missions.
