a day ago
Locals lay wreaths in tribute to missing Durban plane crash pilot
Residents of Durban have begun laying flowers and tributes at Battery Beach in memory of Andrew Blackwood-Murray who remains missing after his light aircraft crashed into the sea during an aerobatic display on Thursday afternoon.
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The 61-year-old Johannesburg pilot, who was participating in an aerial performance as part of the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit held at Virginia Airport, lost control of his plane during the closing stages of the show.
As search and rescue teams, including divers and NSRI craft, continued their efforts offshore for a third day, crowds gathered on the beach to show support and mourn the tragedy.
Among them was Paulo Martins, a close friend and colleague of Blackwood-Murray's.
'We were friends, we were colleagues, we were aviators – and that's just hard work,' Martins said, laying flowers alongside his family.
'When I got the news, I had a feeling of who it might have been. I didn't want to ask, but eventually, the questions were answered.'
Thembeka Cebani, a local beachfront vendor, recounted witnessing the incident and expressed her condolences.
'We were just enjoying the airshow at Suncoast, but we were shocked when we saw the plane go straight into the ocean,' she said.
'Now we're just praying they can find the body, so the family can have peace.'
Andre Stain, who lives in a nearby apartment overlooking the beach, was among those who watched the crash unfold in real-time.
'What you see in the video – it's worse to see live. It was more violent. It was actually very sad,' he said.
The aircraft, a ZS-AEC Extra 300, had been performing high-speed aerobatic manoeuvres when it plummeted into the water in full view of beachgoers and tourists.
Search efforts, coordinated by the Joint Operations Command Centre (JOCC), continue with teams from the NSRI, Metro Police, and SAPS Search and Rescue working around the clock. Post your condolences below, by …
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