Two aircraft crash, several dead

2003-06-08 19:56

Nelspruit - Several people were killed on Sunday in two unrelated aircraft accidents in the eastern Mpumalanga region, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reported.

The authority confirmed a Sukhoi SU-29 aerobatic aircraft had crashed into the mountains at Kaapsehoop while a Bell 407 helicopter had crashed in the Graskop mountains.

Two people on board the Sukhoi died on impact, said CAA chief accident investigator Andre de Kok said.

He could not confirm the number of dead in the chopper crash, but said six people were on board when the aircraft hit the mountains.

An SA National Defence Force helicopter had located the chopper wreckage, which was flying from Sabie to Graskop, De Kok said.

He said the Sukhoi was flown down to Nelspruit on Saturday for the town's annual air show.

It was on its way from Nelspruit to Ermelo on Sunday when it crashed.

- SAPA