Aviation Safety Monitoring Unit

Aircraft Accidents and fatalities in Sri Lanka

Year	No of accidents	Fatalities	Remarks
2004	1	0	Note 1
2005	2	2	Note 2
2006	0	0	-
2007	0	0	-
2008	0	0	-
2009	0	0	-
2010	0	0	-
2011	0	0	-
2012	0	0	-
2013	0	0	-
2014	0	0	-
2015	0	0	-
2016	0	0	-
2017	0	0	-
2018	0	0	-
2019	0	0	-
2020	0	0	-
2021	1	0	1-serious injury 2- minor injuries Pls see Note 3
2022	0	0	-
2023	0	0	-
2024	0	0	-

Note 1

On 4^th February, 2004 at 2230hrs Local Time (1630UTC), IL-18 cargo aircraft registered in Republic of Kyrgyz as EX005 operated by Phoenix Aviation based in Sharjah UAE, landed on the grass patch parallel to runway 04 at Bandaranaike International Airport, and eventually coming to a stop on the runway. The landing caused heavy structural damages to Aircraft, rendering it beyond economical repair, and certain damages to the aerodrome equipment. There were four cockpit crew and three ground crew onboard, and no injuries reported.

Note 2

On 08th September 2005 at 1353 hrs local time (07.53 UTC), B 747- 368 passenger aircraft registered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as HZ-AIP owned and operated by Saudi Arabian Airlines was taxing for Runway 22 for the scheduled flight from BIA Colombo to Jeddah via Riyadh. While the aircraft was taxing on parallel taxiway towards Runway 22, the Captain was informed of a bomb threat to his aircraft by the Air Traffic Controller. Aircraft taxied to the isolated parking position and passengers were evacuated through slides. Few passengers were injured in the evacuation process and one female passenger succumbed to her injuries later. There was no significant disruption to airport operations due to the accident.
The accident occurred at 0450 UTC on 16^th October 2005 at Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The SriLankan Airlines flight UL 316, 4R-ALA which arrived from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was parked at Parking Bay A18 and the disembarkation of passengers had been in progress. A ground vehicle which was approaching the aircraft for maintenance collided with the stepladder positioned at L4 door shifting the ladder away from the aircraft. Consequently one passenger who was disembarking the aircraft fell between the displaced ladder and the aircraft, who later succumbed to injuries. A few others who were on the stepladder were also injured due to this accident.

Note-3

On the 27th of December 2021 at approximately 0822 UTC, a charter flight 4R-GAF (Cessna 172L) operated by Sakurai Aviation Ltd crash landed within 2 to 3 nautical miles north east of VCBI (Bandaranaike International Airport) on emergency approach to Runway 22 with 04 passengers on board (POB). The aircraft was bound from VCCS (Sigiriya Airport) to VCCK (Koggala Airport) when a diversion was requested due to engine RPM fluctuations and subsequent engine power loss. The aircraft crash landed with damage to the structure and injuries to occupants. Serious injuries to one occupant and no fatalities.

Aircraft Serious Incidents in Sri Lanka

Year	No of Serious Incidents	Remarks
2004	0	-
2005	0	-
2006	1	Note 1
2007	1	0
2008	0	-
2009	0	-
2010	0	-
2011	0	-
2012	0	-
2013	1	Note 3
2014	0	-
2015	0	-
2016	0	-
2017	0	-
2018	0	-
2019	1	Note 4
2020	1	Note 5
2021	1	Note 6
2022	0	-
2023	1	Note 7
2024	2	Note 8 & 9

Note-1

On 02^nd December 2006, Aero Lanka flight RNL 106, British Aerospace HS748, registration 4R-SER, was on a scheduled passenger flight returning from KKS (Palaly- Jaffna) to Colombo Airport, Ratmalana and was making a visual approach on runway 22 at dusk in good weather conditions with a reported surface wind of 030⁰/10 kts gusting occasionally to 15 kts at the time of landing. The crew had completed the landing checklist and discussed the approach to runway 22. The aircraft touched down almost two thirds of the way down the runway (passing the Control Tower) and overran the 04 end of the runway.

Note-2

On 15^th October 2007, 2113 UTC, a ground collision occurred when SriLankan Airlines aircraft A340-311, bearing registration 4R-ADC, attempted to pass a British Airways aircraft Boeing 747-436, G-BNLL that was stationary on an adjoining taxiway, at night at London Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom.

Note-3

On 02^nd July 2013 SriLankan Airlines flight UL 266 bearing registration 4R-ADA departed at 20:45 UTC from King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo, Sri Lanka. On approach to BIA the flight crew conducted a practice auto landing on runway 22 with good visibility condition better than what was required for an actual auto land. During the said auto land maneuverer, aircraft experienced a high sink rate during the flare, followed by a hard landing and a tail strike.

Note-4

On 02nd April 2019 Garuda Indonesia flight bearing registration PK-GPF departed with flight number GIA972 from Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport (WITT), Indonesia and the intended point of landing was King Abdulaziz International Airport (OEJN), Saudi Arabia. During cruising at FL380, the aircraft experienced cabin pressurize problem at coordinate 7°3’45.6228”N 81°36’33.7788”E, which was in Sri Lanka airspace and the pilot performed emergency descend. The aircraft diverted and landed safely at Bandaranaike International Airport (VCBI), Sri Lanka. No aircraft damage reported in this occurrence.

Note-5

On 2nd De 2020, Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL 190 bearing registration number 4R-AND departed from Dhaka International Airport to Bandaranaike International Airport encountered indications on multiple failures on systems during cruise at about FL 360. Flight crew completed all ECAM actions and ATC was informed that they were unable to maintain RVSM requirements. Flight crew descended to FL 280 as per the instructions of ATC. Aircraft diverted to Chennai International Airport, India and landed safely.

Note-6

"SriLankan Airlines Flight UL1265, 4R-ALM departed from Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, Sri Lankan (VCBI) to King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (OERK) on 18th Sept 2021. The aircraft Departed at 0958UTC from VCBI and the Captain was the Pilot Flying (PF). During climb, the flight had encountered a hail strike and the aircraft windshield shattered first on the F/O’s side followed by the Captain’s side. The aircraft had returned back to base (VCBI) and an over-weight landing had carried out."

Note-7

The flight UL225, Airbus 330 bearing registration 4R-ALH operated by Sri Lankan Airlines Ltd departed from Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, Sri Lanka (VCBI) on 21st April 2023 to Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates (OMDB). At climb out of FL190 within Colombo FIR, cabin altitude increased at a significant rate which led to different levels of alert, first the ECAM advisory, then an ECAM warning. The flight crew carried out an emergency descent to 8000 ft, jettisoned fuel and landed uneventfully at VCBI.

Note 8

On 9th January 2024, flight FDB1026, a scheduled service from Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, Sri Lanka (VCBI) to Male International Airport, Maldives (VRMM), was issued clear instructions by Colombo Approach Control to follow the Standard Instrument Departure (SID) procedure. These instructions were communicated twice: first during ATC clearance before engine start-up and again when the aircraft was re-cleared to flight level 240. The Pilot-in-Command (PIC) of FDB1026 confirmed receipt of these instructions by reading back the clearance to the controller.
However, the aircraft subsequently failed to comply with the vertical restrictions mandated by the SID, leading to a critical loss of separation from another aircraft, ALK122, which was operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) from Chennai International Airport, India (VOMM) to Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, Sri Lanka (VCBI).
As the loss of separation developed, the air traffic controller provided traffic information to both aircraft. Although FDB1026 acknowledged the information, it had already climbed to an altitude of 4,300 feet, triggering a Short-Term Conflict Alert (STCA) in the Air Traffic Management (ATM) system. At the same time, ALK122 maintained an altitude of 5,000 feet, resulting in a breach of the minimum required separation.

Note 9

SriLankan Airlines flight UL226, a scheduled flight, departed from Dubai International Airport (OMDB), United Arab Emirates, to Bandaranaike International Airport (VCBI), Katunayake, Sri Lanka, at approximately 1900 hrs (UTC) on the 7th of July 2024. The Pilot-in-Command (PIC) was the Pilot Monitoring (PM), while the First Officer (FO) was the Pilot Flying (PF).

Before approaching VCBI, the flight crew received the latest aerodrome and weather information through the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS), which indicated variable winds at 3 knots, visibility of 9 km, and light rain over the airfield. During descent, the crew established communication with Colombo Director and were cleared for an ILS approach to Runway 22 (RWY 22) at VCBI. Once fully established on the ILS for RWY 22, the flight crew contacted Colombo Tower for landing clearance.

During the approach into Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, the aircraft drifted left of the Runway 22 centerline. Upon touchdown, the aircraft landed left of the centerline and veered further left before the crew successfully regained control. As a result, four tires on the left main landing gear (MLG) sustained damage, along with four runway edge lights.

Bird Strikes