Two SANDF pilots injured in crash
TWO SANDF pilots are recovering in the Life West Coast Private Hospital after they were injured when they crashlanded a SA Air Force aircraft on a private farm in Langebaanweg yesterday.
The SANDF said the incident occurred during a routine night-flying exercise at Air Force Base Langebaanweg. The pilots were flying a Cessna 208 Caravan.
SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said the pilots were recovered by the base’s rescuers.
“Both pilots sustained varying degrees of injuries and they are currently in hospital,” said Dlamini.
He said internal SANDF processes had been initiated to convene a board of inquiry to determine the cause of the accident.
“The board is made up of aviation experts. I think it has already been initiated,” Dlamini said.
“They will investigate the condition of the aircraft before it took off. This is a very highly technical process.”
Dlamini said he was not in a position to give the names of the pilots and could only say they were with the SANDF.
The Atlantic Medical response team was called to the incident after 2am.
Spokesperson David Miller said they were not allowed to come close to the scene and the patients were brought to them.
Life West Coast Private Hospital manager Christine Malan confirmed the two pilots were in the hospital’s ICU.
“The patients’ families preferred all the media queries be directed to the air force.
“We are not in a position to give details about their conditions, but we can confirm they were admitted at the hospital,” she said. – Staff Writer