A Sri Lankan air force Antonov An-32 twin-turboprop utility aircraft, carrying 76 servicemen and five crew, crashed some 40km (22nm) north of Colombo, killing all on board, says a Sri Lankan military statement. The aircraft had taken off in bad weather from Colombo Ratmalana airport bound for Palaly in the northern Tamil region, but dived from 8,000ft (2,500m) into the sea. There was no emergency call, reports the military who say that, the cause could have been anything from crew unfamiliarity with a new type, to sabotage or a missile. In April, two Sri Lankan military transport aircraft, were brought down by missiles fired by Tamil rebels near Palaly.
Source: Flight International
