Times Of Swaziland: PILOT BURNS TO DEATH IN HELICOPTER CRASH

PILOT BURNS TO DEATH IN HELICOPTER CRASH
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BY SITHEMBILE HLATSHWAYO on 27/10/2021 09:03:00


MHLAMBANYATSI – A take-off to check out the weather ended tragically for a
pilot who is also an instructor, after his chopper crashed and exploded at
Mhlambanyatsi A10 forest owned by Montigny yesterday morning.
The name of the pilot who was onboard the B206 helicopter is known to this
publication but will not be revealed as his family could not be reached for
comment at the time of compiling this report. Efforts to get hold of his family
were not successful at the time of compiling this report as they were believed
to be in South Africa, Cape Town.
Cause
Information gathered from a highly placed source, who is an associate to the
deceased and a local pilot who was at the accident scene to establish the cause
of the crash, was to the effect that the deceased pilot owned Heli Worx, a
business that operated helicopters and his aircraft was fully licensed. “He
was a qualified pilot and an instructor as well who was working with small scale
farmers around Siphofaneni and Big Bend,” the associate said. The source
stated that the pilot worked with small scale farmers around Siphofaneni and Big
Bend who contracted him to spray their sugar cane fields.
Weather
He stated that the pilot took off from the Matsapha Airport yesterday, at around
8am to check out on the weather before clearing his documents to take off at the
Sikhuphe International Airport. He stated that the cause of the crash was
unknown at the moment as combined reports from all stakeholders were yet to be
taken to inspectors, who would be able to determine the cause of the accident.
The above information was reconfirmed by the Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority
(ESWACAA). Through a press statement, management at ESWACAA confirmed that a
helicopter accident occurred at Mhlambanyatsi area at around 8:10am on Tuesday
(October 26, 2021).  ESWACAA stated that the Namibian registered helicopter,
B206, departed from the Matsapha Airport at around 8am and en route to Lanseria
in Johannesburg, SA. “ESWACAA will provide further update about this accident
and potential investigations,” reads part of the statement.
Meanwhile, an eyewitness, who is an employee of Montigny, Julius Dlamini, said
just around 8:10am, they heard a loud bang. This, he said happened a few minutes
after a helicopter with an unusual sound which was flying very low had passed
their workstation. He said together with two of his colleagues, they went
outside the office to observe the aircraft, but later returned inside to
continue with their work.
Dlamini said a few minutes later, they received a call from their control
office, informing them about smoke that was seen around A10 forest.
“Immediately, we went to inspect the forest and we were shocked by what we
discovered,” he said. He mentioned that the helicopter was in flames when they
arrived and they tried looking around in search of any passengers who were on
board. “We could not get closer to the aircraft as it continued to explode,”
he added.
Dlamini said they were later joined, by the plantation manager who was in the
company of the police and they put out the flames. He said they realised that
there was one person who was burnt beyond recognition. When reached for comment,
Montigny’s Sihle Mavuso stated that the aircraft was a private one and had no
business with their company. Mavuso said what they knew was that the owner
operated in the sugar belt where he sprayed sugar cane. Chief Police Information
and Communication Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the
accident, adding that only the pilot was on board the aircraft. Vilakati said
they were still investigating on what might have lead to the helicopter crash.