Missing SANDF aircraft found wrecked in Drakensberg

The wreckage of a missing military aircraft has been found in the Drakensberg near Ladysmith, the SA National Defence Force said on Thursday.

It went missing en route to Mthatha on Wednesday, SANDF spokesman Xolani Mabanga said.

“I was informed that the wreckage was found but can only provide more details later after I have received more information from the team which attended to the scene,” said Mabanga.

The aircraft was scheduled to land in Mthatha at 10am. It took off from Waterkloof air force base in Pretoria.

“Yes we have received the report about the missing aircraft,” SA National Defence Force spokesman Xolani Mabanga said in a report before the aircraft was found.

He did not know what time it disappeared off the radar.

He would not disclose how many people were on board “to prevent speculation”.   Military helicopters were sent to the area, but the search was suspended due to bad weather. A ground search was underway in the Ladysmith area, northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Earlier, Algoa FM reported that the aircraft was a C47TP, an upgraded DC-3 refitted with turbine engines.   It quoted an unnamed source saying 11 people were believed to be on board.