A light aircraft crashed into the ocean off Durban’s North Beach, near Suncoast Casino, KwaZulu-Natal, on Thursday afternoon.
Image: ALS Paramedics via IOL
The plane was part of an airshow linked to the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Global Summit 2025, hosted at Virginia Airport as per IOL reports.
According to ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson, paramedics are on the scene alongside SAPS, Metro Police Search and Rescue, and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) as efforts continue to locate the missing pilot.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, confirmed he was also present at the crash site.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) reported that the incident occurred just before 2pm.
“It appears that the ZS-AEC Extra 300 aircraft, which was performing its final display, went down in the sea. The Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) has taken over the investigation,” SACAA said in a statement.
The Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) confirmed that SAPS divers, Metro SAR divers, and NSRI crews are working together in a coordinated search to find the pilot.
**This is a developing story.
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