The pilot was reportedly the sole occupant of an aircraft that failed to arrive at its destination earlier on Wednesday.
A pilot has been confirmed dead after two aircraft went missing around Nottingham Road in the Midlands area in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.
The Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre’s (ARCC) chief of operations, Gregory Critchley, said a search and rescue team located one of the aircraft in the primary search area west of Howick.
The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, had suffered fatal injuries.
Search for second aircraft continues
“The SAR [search and rescue] operation continues to locate the missing second aircraft,” Critchley said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Critchley had confirmed that two aircraft went missing, amid reports of a plane crash.
He said the ARCC was alerted to a light aircraft that relayed a distress call to air traffic control today.
“The ARCC immediately alerted search and rescue teams through the KZN early warning network to activate for a search and rescue operation. In total, the ARCC was coordinating a search and rescue operation for two aircraft that failed to arrive at their destination,” Critchley said.
He said the operation is being led by the South African Police Service search and rescue team KZN, assisted by Search and Rescue South Africa KZN, Mountain SAR, Hamnet emergency communications, theK9 Search and Rescue Association of South Africa, Midlands Emergency Medical Services, IPSS Medical Rescue, Freddies fire and rescue services, and Clandestine Drone Operations.
“Any sighting of the other missing aircraft or information, please contact the ARCC on 063-505-4164 or 063-505-5485 immediately.”
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Body believed to be of missing KZN pilot found
Last month, a body believed to be that of missing 61-year-old pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray was discovered on Durban’s beachfront, nearly a month after his light aircraft plunged into the ocean during an air show off the Durban coastline.
The accident occurred just before 2pm on Thursday, 21 August 2025, when the ZS-AEC Extra 300 aircraft that was performing its final display crashed into the sea.
Video footage circulating on social media showed the light aircraft looping in the sky before plummeting into the ocean and skidding for a distance.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said they have opened an inquest docket for investigation following the recovery of the man’s body.
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