A newspaper report was published claiming that the Air Force had flown the Minister to Palali and that the pilot had been uncertain of the route to his destination. In the first instance he has flown the Minister and his delegation towards Manner as he was reported to have not known the route to Palaly and run short of fuel just before landing at Palaly.
The Civil Aviation Authority has suspended the licence of the pilot, who had flown the civilian aircraft that transported the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and his delegation to Palali without a proper flight plan and endangered the lives of his passengers.
However, Air Force Media Spokesman Group Captain Gihan Seneviratne denied a news item published that an SLAF aircraft had transported Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera to Palali and endangered his life due to the pilot being incapable of finding the route.
Speaking to the press, Seneviratne said this news item published in a Sinhala daily on January 15 is a false news and on the said date no Air Force aircraft had flown to Palali.
However, according to the air traffic control report the minister had taken a civil aircraft to Palali. While the investigations are in progress the licence of the pilot concerned has been suspended.
It is not only irresponsible but it is also illegal for a pilot to fly an aircraft without following the proper procedures and a flight plan.Not just VIPs but a pilot should not endanger the life of even a single passenger. A pilot cannot fly an aircraft without knowing the route. This is unacceptable, “ said Air Force Media Spokesman.
