Overview

• A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter carrying 12 military personnel crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir on May 9, 2025.
• Initially, all passengers were recovered alive, but three Army personnel and two Air Force members later died in the hospital, with one additional fatality disputed.
• The crash occurred during a flight to a military pass-out ceremony, approximately 280 kilometers northeast of Colombo.
• The Defence Ministry has formed a nine-member panel to investigate the cause of the crash, which remains undetermined.
• The incident underscores operational risks in military aviation and challenges in rescue and casualty reporting in remote areas.