12-06-2025
Former Ladysmith students among victims of fatal Greytown plane crash
The deceased in the plane crash on Sunday evening (June 8) have all officially been identified. They are 22-year-old Lwazi Msane-Mchunu, a qualified and licensed pilot; 23-year-old student pilot Nqobile Biyela; and medical student Siphesihle Buthelezi, a close friend of Lwazi. Both Lwazi and Siphesihle matriculated at Harvest High School in Ladysmith.
The SAPS Accident & Incident Investigations Division will investigate both crashes and collect evidence. A preliminary report will be published on the SACAA website 30 days from the date of the accident.
On Sunday, the Piper Cherokee plane is alleged to have run out of fuel before crashing into a forest near Greytown.
The plane – which was part of a training flight from Virginia Airfield in Durban, involving three aircraft – went missing after aborting an attempted landing to refuel at Ladysmith Airfield in KZN.
Also READ: Search for missing plane
It is believed that the plane turned back to attempt a landing in Greytown. All contact with the aircraft was lost shortly afterwards, with the crash site only being found on Monday (June 9).
A second plane, which also failed to land in Ladysmith, crash-landed in a sugarcane field near Greytown. Fortunately, no one was injured in this crash.
The third plane, which was the lead aircraft, successfully landed in Ladysmith, refuelled and continued on to Pretoria.
Please follow us on our YouTube channel and do not be shy; please subscribe and comment as well.
Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join us there!
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
