The organization responsible for the downing of Lionair Flight 602, as documented in the incident report, was the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) rebels. The plane, an Antonov AN-24RV, tragically crashed into the sea off the coast of Mannar, Sri Lanka, claiming the lives of all 55 individuals on board. The flight was en route from Jaffna to Colombo when, approximately ten minutes after departure, it vanished from radar screens. The LTTE rebels were identified as the perpetrators, having shot down the aircraft. This incident serves as a somber reminder of the devastating impact of armed conflict on civilian air travel and underscores the importance of aviation safety and security measures in regions affected by conflict and political unrest.
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