Antonov AN-32 crash, Feb 21, 1997 (4 killed), Colombo-Rat...
Antonov AN-32 accident on February 21, 1997 near Colombo-Ratmalana, Western Province, Sri Lanka with 4 fatalities. Cause: Aborted takeoff followed by...
- Date: February 21, 1997
- Aircraft: Antonov AN-32
- Location: Colombo-Ratmalana, Western Province, Sri Lanka
- Fatalities: 4
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Aborted takeoff followed by inadvertent retraction of the landing gear by the copilot during confusion in the cockpit.
A Sri Lanka Air Force Antonov An-32 was taking off from Colombo-Ratmalana on a military flight with troops aboard. The captain rejected the takeoff, and in the confusion the copilot retracted the landing gear. The aircraft slid along the runway and caught fire, killing four passengers.