Air attack scare: Sri Lanka diverts flights to India

Colombo: Sri Lankan troops fired anti-aircraft weapons, evacuated passengers and briefly shut the international airport here yesterday night fearing a Tamil Tiger air raid, officials said.
Airport officials said they were asked to shut down the runway and all incoming flights were diverted to neighbouring India following reports rebel attack planes were approaching.
Two Sri Lankan Airlines flights were re-directed to Chennai in southern India, officials said. The airline said there would be delays following the scare.
A military helicopter gunship sent to check the reports was forced to make a crash landing due to a technical problem, but the pilots managed to bail out, official sources said.
Air force spokesman Ajantha Silva said the air defence system had been activated after unidentified aircraft were spotted north of the airport.
27/04/07 AFP/Peninsula On-line, Qatar

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Categories: Airports Apr 2007, Foreign Apr 2007, Safety Apr 2007