 An Antonov An-24RV similar to the one involved. | |
| Shootdown | |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 September 1998 |
| Summary | Shot down by a missile fired from a MANPADS |
| Site | Off the coast of Iranaitivu, Mannar District, Sri Lanka 8°58′N 79°53′E / 8.967°N 79.883°E |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Antonov An-24RV |
| Operator | Lionair |
| Registration | EW-46465 |
| Flight origin | Kankesanturai Airport, Jaffna, Sri Lanka |
| Destination | Ratmalana Airport, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Occupants | 55 |
| Passengers | 48 |
| Crew | 7 |
| Fatalities | 55 |
| Survivors | 0 |
Lionair Flight 602 was a Lionair Antonov An-24RV which crashed into the sea off the north-western coast of Sri Lanka on 29 September 1998. The aircraft departed Jaffna Airport with 48 passengers and a crew of seven; it disappeared from radar screens ten minutes into the flight. Initial reports indicated that the plane had been shot down by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) using a man-portable surface-to-air missile, which has since been confirmed. All aboard were presumed killed.