Durban – A light fixed-wing aircraft crashed into the ocean off Battery Beach in Durban on Thursday afternoon while performing an aerobatic manoeuvre during an airshow.
According to early reports, the plane was seen ascending before banking and plunging into the water, breaking apart on impact. A South African Police Service (SAPS) helicopter was spotted conducting an aerial search above the wreckage shortly after the incident, which occurred just after 14:00.
Details regarding survivors, the number of passengers, and the pilot’s condition remain unconfirmed at this stage.
ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said video footage circulating on social media showed the aircraft in the middle of a display before it suddenly crashed into the sea.
“Paramedics are on the beach along with police search and rescue teams and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI),” Jamieson said. “Operations are ongoing to locate and recover any occupants.”
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The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and authorities are expected to release more information once the search and rescue mission has concluded.
This is a developing story.
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