Kfirs crash in rehearsal drill One of the pilots killed:

* Aircraft took off from Katunayake Air Base at 9.10 am

* Reached Udatuttiripitiya around 9.30 am

* Pilots ejected before crash

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Two Kfir Aircraft among a fleet of aircraft which were taking part in a rehearsal for today’s Air Force 60th anniversary events crashed into each other near Udatuttiripitiya in the Gampaha District yesterday morning. The mishap occurred when the two aircraft were flying at a low attitude according to eye witness accounts. Following the crash the two aircraft burst into a huge ball of flame with a massive sound before falling to the ground.

Flight Lt. Monath Perera

The incident took place around 9.30 am. The debris of the destroyed Kfirs were scattered over a large area.

According to Air Force Spokesman Group Captain Andrew Wijesuriya the aircraft had taken off from Katunayake Air Base at 9.10 am for the rehearsal. The aircraft had reached Udatuttiripitiya around 9.30 am when they crashed against each other. With the collision, the two pilots had ejected from their aircraft.

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