FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – A Cinnamon Air amphibian aircraft, operated by Saffron Aviation, encountered an “operational incident” while attempting to land on Lake Gregory in Sri Lanka’s central district of Nuwara Eliya, according to the operator.
The Cessna 208 Caravan Amphibian, with registration 4R-CAE, plunged into the lake during its landing attempt around 12:30 p.m., amidst strong winds. Fortunately, there were no passengers on board, only two pilots, who were promptly rescued by relief teams and hospitalized. No fatalities were reported.
The seaplane, which was on a mission to transport tourists, flipped upon water contact. This prompted an immediate response from the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), which sent investigators to the site, suspecting adverse weather conditions as the primary cause.
Saffron Aviation, the operator, confirmed the safety of the crew and is cooperating with authorities, noting that incidents of this nature are rare in Cinnamon Air’s scenic operations.
“Earlier today, a Cinnamon Air aircraft experienced an incident during landing on the waters of Lake Gregory. We wish to confirm that there were no passengers on board the aircraft at the time of the incident,” stated Cinnamon Air’s operator, Saffron Aviation (Pvt) Ltd.
“All crew members are safe, and we can confirm there were no injuries or casualties,” the statement continued. “Cinnamon Air is working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), which is currently conducting an on-site assessment.”
Having been in commercial operations since 2013 and safely carrying over 80,000 passengers, Cinnamon Air emphasizes that safety remains its highest priority. The company has also initiated an internal review of the incident.
(Colombo/January 07/2025)
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