Pietermaritzburg - Two people died when a light aircraft crashed into a sugarcane field in Richmond, near Pietermaritzburg, paramedics said on Thursday.
ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak said the aircraft went missing shortly after taking off from the Oribi Airport in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.
“ER24 along with the Pietermaritzburg SAPS (SA Police Service) K9 search and rescue unit deployed members to the area in Pietermaritzburg where contact was last made with the aircraft,” he said in a statement.
“Late last night (Wednesday) the search was called off due to poor visibility accompanied by rain and mist.”
The search resumed on Thursday morning, when another aircraft reported seeing the crash site in the sugarcane field. The two people in the aircraft were found dead.
“At this stage the exact cause of the crash is not yet known and will be investigated by the local police and Civil Aviation Authority.” - Sapa