(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The Ministry of Defence has vehemently refuted the reports claiming that a group of Sri Lankans were taken hostage by the Al-Shabaab militant group after a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter crash-landed in Somalia.
An SLAF MI-17 helicopter (SMH 4417) engaged with the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces crashed during landing phase in the Central African Republic at around on Friday morning (Jan.12).
In a statement, the Defence Ministry said the helicopter was on a routine cargo flight during a UN Peacekeeping mission.
Five crew members and 1,200kg of cargo aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident, and two members had sustained minor injuries.
The crash-landing was attributed to the rotor brownout (RWB) resulting from extreme dusty and sand conditions.
The Ministry of Defence further emphasized that the 5 crew members and the helicopter are safe with the Sri Lankan Contingent in Central African Republic.
Meanwhile, an SLAF- appointed panel of investigators are conducting a probe into the crash of the helicopter to determine the precise cause of the damage.
The Defence Ministry urged the members of public to not to be misled by false information.
