Mbombela – Search and rescue teams are battling severe weather conditions to locate a missing Cessna 206 aircraft that departed from King Mswati III International Airport on Thursday afternoon and was expected to land at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, according to a report by The Lowvelder.
The aircraft took off from Eswatini at 13:23 and lost contact 14 minutes later at 13:37, Mpumalanga police spokesperson Sergeant Thulisile Magagula confirmed. She said efforts are underway to determine the exact location of the aircraft, which has not been traced since communication was lost.
Gregory Critchley, chief of the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC), confirmed that the aircraft is missing and that the team is working to narrow down its possible location. “We have an idea where the aircraft could be, but can’t confirm yet,” he told The Lowvelder.
The Cessna 206 reportedly had only one person on board. Two helicopters sent to assist in the operation were forced to return to base due to mist, rain, and strong winds over the Lebombo Mountains.
Ground teams from SAPS Search and Rescue, the South African Search and Rescue Association (SARZA), ER24, SAPPI, Fidelity Security Services, Netcare HEMS (Aeromed 4), Emer-G-Med, and Working on Fire have been combing areas near the Barberton Nature Reserve as the search continues.
Authorities say operations will resume in full once weather conditions improve.
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