Search for missing pilot to resume on Friday after aircraft crash off Durban beach
Image: DOCTOR NGCOBO / Independent Newspapers
The search for a missing pilot will resume on Friday morning after a light aircraft crashed into the ocean near Battery Beach on Thursday afternoon.
This is according to update provided by ALS Paramedics.
The light aircraft had been participating in an airshow linked to the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Summit, which was being hosted at the Durban International Convention Centre this week.
The summit is the third annual global meeting organised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).
The Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) said the crash occurred near Suncoast Casino at approximately 13:45pm.
'The accident occurred at approximately 13:45 when the ZS-AEC Extra 300 aircraft that was performing its final display crashed into the sea,' the AIID said in a media statement. 'The Emergency Medical Services and law enforcement immediately attended to the scene.'
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ALS Paramedics, which was among the first on scene, reported that emergency personnel, including SAPS, Symmetry Police Search and Rescue Units, the T25 department, and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), were deployed.
Pictures from the scene showed that wreckage from the plane had been recovered.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said he went to the crash scene immediately after receiving the report. 'I was received by the Director of SA Civil Aviation Authority, Ms Poppy Khoza and her team,' Duma said.
'Ms Khoza informed me that the authority's Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) has taken over and will be conducting an extensive investigation to establish the causes of the accident.
'Critically, as the Department of Transport in KwaZulu-Natal, our hearts are with the family of the pilot,' he said.
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Parts of the light aircraft were recovered on Thursday afternoon. Image: DOCTOR NGCOBO / Independent Newspapers The search for a missing pilot will resume on Friday morning after a light aircraft crashed into the ocean near Battery Beach on Thursday afternoon. This is according to update provided by ALS Paramedics. The light aircraft had been participating in an airshow linked to the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Summit, which was being hosted at the Durban International Convention Centre this week. The summit is the third annual global meeting organised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). The Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) said the crash occurred near Suncoast Casino at approximately 13:45pm. 'The accident occurred at approximately 13:45 when the ZS-AEC Extra 300 aircraft that was performing its final display crashed into the sea,' the AIID said in a media statement. 'The Emergency Medical Services and law enforcement immediately attended to the scene.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ ALS Paramedics, which was among the first on scene, reported that emergency personnel, including SAPS, Symmetry Police Search and Rescue Units, the T25 department, and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), were deployed. Pictures from the scene showed that wreckage from the plane had been recovered. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said he went to the crash scene immediately after receiving the report. 'I was received by the Director of SA Civil Aviation Authority, Ms Poppy Khoza and her team,' Duma said. 'Ms Khoza informed me that the authority's Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) has taken over and will be conducting an extensive investigation to establish the causes of the accident. 'Critically, as the Department of Transport in KwaZulu-Natal, our hearts are with the family of the pilot,' he said.
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