Lanka Air Force Kfir jet crashes into lagoon

Colombo, Oct 16: An Israeli-built Kfir fighter jet of the Sri Lankan Air Force crashed into nearby lagoon shortly after it took off from the Katunayake Air Force base to take on some targets against the Tamil Tiger rebels, military and residents of the area said.

''The Israeli-built Kfir jet has crashed into the Negombo lagoon due to technical failure just few minutes ago. But the pilot ejected before it and survived with minor injuries,'' a top military official attched to the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) told UNI over the phone.

Residents of the area said they saw the suppersonic jet dipping into the lagoon shortly after it took over from the Air Force base.

The jet was on its way to take on some rebel targets, few hours after a suspected LTTE suicide bomb attack on a convey of busses carrying navy personnel on leave, killed at least 92 Sri Lankan Security Force personnel and wounded over 100.

UNI