Aviation

7.10, crash, fatalities

South Africa: nine people, including four children, were killed when their light aircraft, a Britten Norman BN 2A-26 Islander, ZS-OSD, crashed in the mountainous province of Mpumalanga. The aircraft was returning from Mozambique. It landed briefly at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to clear customs and refuel. The aircraft was heading for the town of Tempe. Everyone on board the aircraft, the pilot, two couples and their four children, died in the crash. The crash site was only found a day later as the heavy mist over the mountains hampered rescuers’ efforts. The pilot lost contact with air traffic controllers and failed to arrive at his destination, according to the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre. The cause of the crash was still under investigation.