9.9.2008
A LTTE light aircraft was displayed
in the radar screen of the flight control room around 3.26
AM today (09) said Squadron Leader Sanjaya Adhikari who
was in the control room when the operation to shoot down
the Tiger plane was underway.
Addressing
the press briefing held in the Media Center for National
Security (MCNS), he described the series of incidents
until the aeroplane was shot down.
The aircraft seen towards the right of the radar screen
was flying towards Vavuniya. Second plane was seen around
3.31 AM. It was also heading towards Vavuniya. The air
defense system was already activated and fighter jets
left from Katunayaka to attack the LTTE aircrafts.
The
target of the LTTE aircrafts was the radar system in Vavuniya.
But the aircrafts were unable to achieve the target thanks
to the air defense system. They had to drop the bombs
in the camp area and to flee.
Fighter jets chased the aircrafts and attacked one with
missile and it crashed into the jungle south of Mullaithivu
around 3.55 AM.
In
response to the queries made by the journalists, it was
said that the airplane crashed in LTTE-held territory
and eavesdropping to their communication verified the
fact was correct.
LeN