The wreckage of a helicopter found and recovered by the SLN off Chalai has been identified as belonging to the SLAF Mi 24 Helicopter CH 614 which went missing in March 1997. 

The debris was inspected by a specialist nominated by the Commander of the Air Force at KKS, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) said in a statement today.

“The helicopter crashed with all (passengers and crew) on board and was believed to have been shot down by enemy fire.  This was later confirmed by Intelligence Sources,” it said.

At the time of the crash, the helicopter was captained by Flying Officer A Malalasekera.  The remaining crew comprising Major Wowa Miller (Co Pilot), Major Y Romanov (Engineer),   Air Gunners LAC Arunashantha and LAC Samarakoon PT, and passengers, Flight Lieutenant PHA Senasinghe, Corporal Nandasena SPL and LAC Liyanage were also believed to have perished in the crash.

SLAF said that the bodies of the two air gunners were recovered sometime after the crash, having washed ashore on the coast of India. The bodies were handed over to the respective next of kin and funeral parade formalities were carried out with full military honours, it said.

The helicopter was inducted to the SLAF Fleet in November of 1996 and was on a ferry flight from SLAF Palaly to SLAF Hingurakgoda for routine maintenance when it came under attack. 

“No human remains have been found at the site of the wreckage which had undergone severe deterioration due to long term exposure to sea water,” the statement added.