Search still on for missing plane

2008-10-06 09:12

Nelspruit - Rescue workers were on Monday still searching for a light aircraft that went missing in the Barberton area in Mpumalanga on Sunday afternoon, The South African Search and Rescue Organisation (Sasar) said on Monday.

"Rescue workers conducted a ground search throughout the night until 05:00 this morning. The search resumed an hour later but nothing has been found yet," spokesperson Santjie White said.

She said bad weather conditions in the area made it impossible for Sasar's Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre (ARCC) to conduct an aerial search.

"The weather is still very bad in the area but as soon as it permits we will conduct an aerial search," White said.

The Johannesburg-based ARCC was activated on Sunday afternoon after the light aircraft, which was flying from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to Tempe near Bloemfontein, lost contact with air traffic control and failed to arrive at its destination.

- SAPA