Fire on an aircraft at the Mattala Airport

Colombo (News1st): A sudden fire erupted in a private cargo plane which was preparing to depart to Oman from the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport this morning (December 26). The Russian-made twin-engine Antonov-12 cargo plane flying from Bangkok, Thailand to Oman landed at Mattala International Airport for refueling yesterday (December 25). After the aircraft had been refueled, a fire broke out in one of the engines and the fire brigade unit at the airport has doused the fire. A group of officers of the Civil Aviation Department were due to arrive at the airport this afternoon for inspections and following their recommendations, the aircraft will be directed to either leave or further repair.