SAAF pilots in hospital after night-flying crash

03 March 2016 - 11:27 By TMG Digital

Two South African Air Force (SAAF) pilots have been hospitalised following a crash in the early hours of Thursday morning. According to a statement issued by Defence Corporate Communication‚ the “SAAF Caravan aircraft crash-landed on a private farm just past midnight whilst on a routine night-flying exercise at Air Force Base Langebaanweg”.“The pilots were recovered by the Base Rescue Capability.”The statement added that they “sustained varying degrees of injuries” and “internal processes have been initiated to convene a board of inquiry to determine the cause of the accident”.SAAF pilots crash land on road outside air base - Graeme HoskenTwo senior South African Air Force pilots are in a serious condition in a Western Cape hospital after their aircraft suffered an apparent malfunction and crashed on take-off.The pair‚ a lieutenant-colonel and a captain‚ were taking off from Langebaanweg Air Force Base - which is the air force's flight training school - outside Langebaanweg‚ during the early hours of Thursday morning when the crash occurred.The aircraft‚ a Cessna Caravan‚ which is a light transport aeroplane‚ crashed onto the R45 as the pilots flew over the base perimeter.It is believed the pilots‚ who are from 41 Squadron in Pretoria‚ were taking part in a routine night-flying training exercise.In a statement‚ South African National Defence Force spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said the pilots were recovered from the wreckage by the base's rescue unit."Both pilots sustained varying degrees of injuries and have been hospitalised."He said a board of inquiry had been established to determine the cause of the accident...

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