Search and rescue teams are hopeful of finding missing pilot Johann Marx and his Cessna 206 aircraft today (October 18) as weather conditions improve.

The Ehlanzeni Diving Unit’s Captain Pottie Potgieter confirmed that helicopters have been dispatched to assist in the search. “There are also seven teams on the ground who will help search,” Potgieter said.

ALSO READ: UPDATE | Search and rescue teams track signal from missing pilot’s iPhone

Teams are continuing their efforts within a 1km radius in the Lebombo mountains, based on an iPhone signal detected yesterday. The search area is near the Barberton Makhonjwa World Heritage Site.

Extreme weather conditions have hampered operations over the past two days.

ALSO READ: UPDATE | Pilot of missing aircraft identified

Marx was flying to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport on Thursday, October 16, when his aircraft lost signal and was reported missing. It departed from King Mswati III International Airport in Eswatini at 13:23 and lost signal at 13:37.

ALSO READ: Missing aircraft: what we know so far

Lowvelder has a reporter on the ground with search and rescue teams and will update readers as more information becomes available.