Lionair Flight 602

Lionair Flight 602
An Antonov An-24RV similar to the one involved.
Shootdown
Date29 September 1998
SummaryShot down by a missile fired from a MANPADS
SiteOff the coast of Iranaitivu, Mannar District, Sri Lanka
8°58′N 79°53′E / 8.967°N 79.883°E / 8.967; 79.883
Aircraft
Aircraft typeAntonov An-24RV
OperatorLionair
RegistrationEW-46465
Flight originKankesanturai Airport, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
DestinationRatmalana Airport, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Occupants55
Passengers48
Crew7
Fatalities55
Survivors0

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.