By Staff Reporter
DURBAN – Search and rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate 61-year-old pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray after his light aircraft crashed into the ocean off Durban’s North Beach, near Suncoast Casino, on Thursday afternoon.
Blackwood-Murray, a renowned aerobatic pilot, had been performing at an aviation event linked to the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit when his Extra 300 aircraft went down.
Witnesses reported seeing the plane plunge into the sea, prompting an immediate emergency response.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), police divers, and eThekwini lifeguards launched an extensive search operation both along the shoreline and offshore, but as of Saturday, the veteran pilot remains missing.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has confirmed that its Accident and Incident Investigations Division is investigating the cause of the crash.
Tributes have since flooded in from across the aviation community, describing Blackwood-Murray as not only a skilled pilot but also a mentor who inspired young aviators.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid the search area as recovery efforts continue.
