News / Africa
5 killed in patrol helicopter crash in Kruger National Park, SA
31 Mar 2013 at 04:43hrs | Views
Five people died when a helicopter crashed in the Kruger National Park on Saturday evening, the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) said.
"The helicopter was on a scheduled aerial patrol of the Kruger National Park as part of Operation RHINO, the anti-rhino poaching operation, in the Kruger National Park," Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said in a statement.
He said at about 19:00 a South African Air Force Agusta A109 light utility helicopter crashed killing five members on board.
"A preliminary investigation is currently under way to establish the sequence of events that led to the fatal crash of the helicopter."
Mabanga said Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the chief of the SANDF General Solly Shoke and the chief of the SA Air Force lieutenant-general Zimpande Msimang expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families, loved ones and friends of the deceased.
"The helicopter was on a scheduled aerial patrol of the Kruger National Park as part of Operation RHINO, the anti-rhino poaching operation, in the Kruger National Park," Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said in a statement.
"A preliminary investigation is currently under way to establish the sequence of events that led to the fatal crash of the helicopter."
Mabanga said Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the chief of the SANDF General Solly Shoke and the chief of the SA Air Force lieutenant-general Zimpande Msimang expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families, loved ones and friends of the deceased.
Source - SAPA
