Helicopter crash victims identified
THE three men who were on board the Agusta A109 helicopter that crashed into Woodstock Dam in Bergville on Tuesday have been identified.
They are Captain Wayne Bongani Mdluli, 34, Flight Sergeant Mone Izak Zuidmeer, 32, and Lieutenant Simon Lehlohonolo Baloyi, 27.
Mdluli’s body has been recovered and divers are still searching for the other two men, who were all from the 17 Squadron.
Baloyi was apparently piloting the helicopter when it crashed. Spokesman for the Ministry of Defence Sam Mkhwanazi said Mdluli, who was based at the Air Force Base Swartkop in Pretoria, joined the South African Air Force in 2000 and had received his pilot wings in 2003. “He was the commander of the Agusta A109. He is survived by his sister,” he said.
The search for the two other missing members still continues.
Meanwhile, the Premier of the Province, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has expressed his condolences to the families of the three members of the SANDF. “The news of the passing away of these three members of the SANDF left us, as the government of KwaZulu-Natal, with a profound feeling of sorrow. We join their families, colleagues and friends who mourn their untimely death.
“They were a perfect example of patriotic South Africans and they will be sincerely missed.
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15 Mai 2009 à 11:44 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
