Five die in Kruger Park helicopter crash
Five South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members on a routine anti-poaching patrol in the Kruger National Park have died in a helicopter crash.
A statement by SANDF said the AW109 helicopter was on a scheduled aerial patrol of the park as part of Operation Rhino.
Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said confirmed that at around 19:00 last night the light utility helicopter crashed, killing all five people on board. He said a preliminary investigation was underway to establish the sequence of events that led to the crash.
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 Lt-Gen Zimpande Msimang expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families, loved ones and friends of the deceased.