UPDATE at 13:05

Lowvelder has confirmed that the missing Cessna 206 piloted by Johann Marx has been located in remote terrain near Barberton. Tragically, Marx has been declared deceased at the scene.

Read the update here.

Article published at 12:22:

Search-and-rescue teams are hopeful of finding missing pilot Johann Marx and his Cessna 206 today as weather conditions improve.

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

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.

Marx was flying to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport on Thursday 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.

Lowvelder has a reporter on the ground with search-and-rescue teams:

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