Air Lanka Flight 512

Air Lanka Flight 512 was an Air Lanka (now SriLankan Airlines) flight from London Gatwick Airport via Zurich and Dubai to Colombo (Bandaranaike International Airport) and Malé, Maldives (Velana International Airport). On 3 May 1986, the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar operating the flight was on the ground in Colombo, about to fly on to Malé, when an explosion ripped the aircraft in two, destroying it. The flight carried mainly French, West German, British and Japanese tourists; 21 people were killed on the aircraft, including 3 British, 2 West German, 3 French, 2 Japanese, 2 Maldivian, and 1 Pakistani. 41 people were injured.[1]

Air Lanka Flight 512

4R-ULD, the aircraft involved, seen at Paris–Le Bourget Airport in November 1983
Bombing
Date	3 May 1986 (1986-05-03)
Summary	Bombing
Site	Bandaranaike International Airport
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Lockheed L-1011-100 TriStar 100 (FAA - L-1011-385-1-15)
Aircraft name	City of Colombo
Operator	Air Lanka
Registration	4R-ULD
Flight origin	London-Gatwick Airport
1st stopover	Zurich Airport
2nd stopover	Dubai International Airport
Last stopover	Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB/VCBI) Colombo, Sri Lanka
Destination	Male' International Airport
Occupants	148
Passengers	128
Crew	20
Fatalities	21
Injuries	41
Survivors	127

Boarding of the flight had been delayed due to the aircraft being damaged during cargo / baggage loading.[2] During boarding, a bomb, hidden in the aircraft's 'Fly Away Kit' (a collection of small spare parts[3]), exploded.[4] The bomb had been timed to detonate mid-flight; the delay likely saved many lives.

The Sri Lankan government concluded that the bomb was planted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to sabotage peace talks between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government. They reported that a search of the aircraft the next day uncovered a parcel containing uniforms with the insignia of the Black Tigers, the suicide wing of LTTE.[1][5]