It was the quick action of a pilot that saved the lives of passengers aboard a light aircraft, which made an emergency landing near Richards Bay yesterday (May 17) afternoon.

According to Zululand Observer, it is reported that the pilot landed on Long Beach, north of Richards Bay.

According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in Richards Bay, three people were on board: A local male pilot and two passengers, who were all uninjured during the incident.

The NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated by the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre following reports from the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) of the emergency landing.

ARCC also alerted the police and emergency services.

“NSRI Richards Bay crew, in the NSRI rescue vehicle and a crewman’s private vehicle, and Netcare 911 ambulance services, responded to assess, in an operation co-ordinated by the ARCC,” said NSRI Richards Bay station commander Norman Rautenbach.

Aircraft safely removed

“The pilot, suspecting that contaminated fuel may have contributed to the forced emergency landing, was transported by a bystander good Samaritan to get fuel for the aircraft.

“Tide times and the high water mark were assessed and the aircraft appeared to be in a safe zone, above the high water mark, on the beach.

“On returning to the aircraft, the pilot refuelled and attempts were made to take off from the beach, but in the soft sand and with nightfall it was deemed safer to wait for low tide on Monday,” said Rautenbach.

He added that this morning (May 18), in the attendance of Richards Bay Fire and Rescue Services and an NSRI Richards Bay crewman, at low tide the light aircraft successfully took off from the beach and landed safely at Richards Bay Airport, without incident.

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