Sri Lankan Air Force Kfir pilot had a mid-air heart attack, medical officer says

The pilot of the Kfir fighter jet that collided with another in midair had a heart attack during the flight, the Negombo Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) Channa Perera has concluded.

According to local media reports, the pilot, 28-year-old Flight Lieutenant Monath Perera has suffered a heart attack during the flight losing control of the aircraft and colliding with the other jet.

The mid-air collision happened 20 minutes into the flight destroyed both aircraft in Yakkala area of Gampaha district on Tuesday.

Perera succumbed to his injuries after failing to eject while the other pilot, Squadron Leader Vajira Jayakody who has managed to eject himself from his aircraft has survived with minor injuries.

The two Kfir jets have taken off from the Air Base at Katunayake and were flying in tight formation rehearsing a fly past in preparation for the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The Commander of the Air Force has appointed a Board of Investigation headed by Air Vice Marshal Kapila Jayampathi to look into the causes of the accident.

The funeral of Flight Lieutenant Perera will take place on Saturday in his hometown of Galle.