2 Dead From KwaZulu-Natal Aircraft Crash As Second Aircraft Found
- The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements confirmed that the bodies of the two pilots who went missing on Wednesday were found
- The pilots were manning light aircraft when they reportedly disappeared in Nottingham Road in the province
- The first aircraft was found on Wednesday evening, and the second was found in the early morning on Thursday
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KWAZULU-NATAL — The two light aircraft that went missing on Wednesday near Nottingham Road in KwaZulu-Natal were found, and both of the pilots died from the crashes.
According to the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, the first aircraft was recovered in the evening of 15 October 2025, hours after they were reported missing. The pilot's body was recovered from the crash. He did not survive.
Rescuers continued the search, and on the morning of 16 October, they located the second aircraft north of Boston. The pilot died from his injuries. The department expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the two pilots.
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What happened when the planes crashed?
The cause of the accidents remains unknown. The two planes sent distress signals on 15 October, and the authorities launched a search and rescue operation. The planes were believed to have crashed near Howick. The challenging weather conditions made it difficult for the authorities to execute their task effectively.
Duma mandated the province's Road Traffic Inspectorate to manage the traffic flow in the area, and the government liaised with the team responsible for the search and rescue.
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3 Briefly News stories about plane crashes
A light aircraft crashed in Suncoast Beach in KwaZulu-Natal on 14 August 2025. A search and rescue mission to find the passengers was launched. The pilot was flying near Suncoast Beach when it lost control and plummeted into the water.
The bodies of three passengers of a missing aircraft were found in KwaZulu-Natal on 9 June after it disappeared from the skies three days prior. The aircraft left the Virginia Airport in Durban and was destined for Ladysmith in the Eastern Cape. A student pilot was among those whose bodies were found alongside the aircraft.
On 5 June 2025, the pilot of a Cessna aircraft was killed shortly after takeoff at the Lanseria Airport on 5 June 2025. The plane crashed in the perimeter of the nearby lion and rhino nature reserve. One other passenger was on board and sustained serious injuries.
Body of pilot found on KZN beach
In a related article, Briefly News reported that a body believed to be that of pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray was found at the Durban beachfront. This was after Blackwood-Murray was reported missing after his aircraft plunged into the ocean during an airshow on 21 August 2025.
The body was washed up wearing a flight suit, and the police opened an inquest docket. He showed no signs of life when his body was found.
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Source: Briefly News
