PT-6 training aircraft grounded

The Air Force has temporarily grounded all PT-6 training aircraft after an accident on Monday that led to the deaths of two military personnel.

The aircraft will be grounded until the Board of Inquiry appointed to investigate the crash released its report, Air Force Spokesman Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe said.

The training aircraft crashed at the Air Force Academy in Trincomalee, on Monday morning.

A spokesman for the Air Force told media the particular PT-6 trainer aircraft had taken off at 11:25 a.m. and that both trainer and trainee had died in the crash a few minutes later, at 11.27 a.m.

Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa appointed a Board of Inquiry to investigate the incident.

The Air Force said there are aeronautical, technical, and medical experts on the board of inquiry, and they are expected to submit an interim report to the Commander of the Air Force soon. (RK)