Latest news with #PiperCherokee
The Citizen
12-06-2025
- The Citizen
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!
Russia Today
12-06-2025
- Russia Today
South Africa investigates fatal air crash
Investigators are piecing together what happened in the moments before a Piper Cherokee crashed in KwaZulu-Natal, claiming the lives two pilots and a medical student on board. The deceased have been identified as 23-year-old student pilots Nqobile Biyela and Lulama 'Lwazi' Msane, along with 20-year-old medical student Siphesihle Buthelezi. IOL reported that the small aircraft departed from the Virginia Airport in Durban, at the weekend. MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma, confirmed that the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have launched a formal investigation. 'A report from the Accident and Incident Investigation Division is expected within 30 days,' he said. Duma added that the grief experienced by the families, friends, and peers of the victims was unbearable and urged the public to continue offering support and compassion to the bereaved families. 'We are fully aware that post-mortem examinations of the victims by trained pathologists will be critical in terms of highlighting causative factors, crash injuries, and survival factors,' Duma said. He said his department is in touch with the families of the deceased. 'It is sad that, during Youth Month, we lose the lives of dedicated and intelligent young people who were destined to take the aviation and healthcare industries to the next level,' he said. First published by IOL
IOL News
11-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
Investigators probe final moments before fatal Piper Cherokee wreck
Nqobile Biyela, Lulama 'Lwazi' Msane and Siphesihle Buthelezi died in a plane crash in KZN. Image: Supplied/Se-Anne Rall/IOL Investigators are piecing together what happened in the moments before a Piper Cherokee crashed in KwaZulu-Natal, claiming the lives two pilots and a medical student on board. The deceased have been identified as 23-year-old student pilots Nqobile Biyela and Lulama 'Lwazi' Msane, along with 20-year-old medical student Siphesihle Buthelezi. IOL reported that the small aircraft departed from the Virginia Airport in Durban, at the weekend. Nqobile Biyela Image: Supplied Lulama 'Lwazi' Msane Image: Supplied Siphesihle Buthelezi Image: Supplied MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma, confirmed that the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have launched a formal investigation. "A report from the Accident and Incident Investigation Division is expected within 30 days," he said. Duma added that the grief experienced by the families, friends, and peers of the victims was unbearable and urged the public to continue offering support and compassion to the bereaved families. "We are fully aware that post-mortem examinations of the victims by trained pathologists will be critical in terms of highlighting causative factors, crash injuries, and survival factors," Duma said. He said his department is in touch with the families of the deceased. "It is sad that, during Youth Month, we lose the lives of dedicated and intelligent young people who were destined to take the aviation and healthcare industries to the next level," he said. IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
11-06-2025
- IOL News
Investigation launched after three young lives lost in KwaZulu-Natal aircraft tragedy
A light aircraft that vanished on Sunday over KwaZulu-Natal skies was found on Monday with all three passengers confirmed dead. The Piper Cherokee, which departed from Virginia Airport around 3pm, was operated by a student pilot. The young victims of the tragic incident have been identified as 23-year-old student pilots Nqobile Biyela and Lulama 'Lwazi' Msane, along with 20-year-old medical student Siphesihle Buthelezi. "We wish to inform the people of KwaZulu-Natal that we are in touch with the families of the two pilot students and a medical student who died tragically following the crash of their light aircraft," said KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma. "It is sad that, during Youth Month, we lose the lives of dedicated and intelligent young people who were destined to take the aviation and healthcare industries to the next level."
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
AIID probes cause of two plane crashes that claimed three lives
The aircraft had formed a part of a loose formation that departed from the Virgina Airport in Durban to Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria. The Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) has been tasked with investigating two aircraft crashes that claimed the lives of three people in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). On Sunday night, a light aircraft with three people onboard went missing and was recovered on Monday. Plane crash The three aircraft had formed a part of a loose formation that departed from the Virginia Airport in Durban to Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria, with the intent of refuelling at the Ladysmith Airport in northern KZN. AIID spokesperson Sisa Majola said that since the Ladysmith Airport did not have night facilities, the three aircraft diverted to nearby Greytown Airport. 'The first accident occurred when a Piper Cherokee (Registration: ZS-CZU) crashed into bushy terrain on approach to the Greytown Airport. The two pilots on board were not injured, but the aircraft was damaged. A second aircraft landed safely'. ALSO READ: UPDATE: Tragic turn after missing aircraft disappears in KZN Midlands Third aircraft crash Majola said on Monday morning, 9 June 2025, there was an official search for the third aircraft, a ZS-KF. 'That concluded with the wreckage being located in Greytown by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre team. The three occupants on board were declared dead by the South African Police Services. 'The AIID investigators have been dispatched to both sites to collate evidence, where a preliminary report will be published on the SACAA website in 30 days from the day of the accident,' Majola said. The AIID extended its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased. Joburg aircraft crash Last week, a pilot was killed and a passenger injured in a light aircraft crash in Johannesburg. The accident occurred in Lanseria at about 10 am. Majola stated that the aircraft departed from Lanseria International Airport (FALA) and crashed moments after takeoff. Majola said the aircraft crashed within the perimeter of the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve. 'There were two on board the aircraft (pilot and passenger), with the pilot fatally injured. The passenger was seriously injured and airlifted to a hospital. 'AIID has dispatched investigators to the site. A preliminary report will be published on the SACAA website in 30 days from the date of this accident,' Majola said. The AIID extended its condolences to the family and loved ones of the pilot and the injured passenger. ALSO READ: Creecy steps in to resolve dispute over Acsa baggage screening services
