A South African Air Force Oryx helicopter flight engineer was killed and the pilot seriously injured when rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) opened fire on them on Sunday.
The two and the aircraft’s co-pilot were taking part in an operation in that country, where they and thousands of South African soldiers are deployed as part of a UN peacekeeping mission.
The three are believed to be from 15 Squadron in Durban. Their identities are being withheld to ensure their families have been informed.
While details are emerging, TimesLIVE Premium has learned the pilot, flight engineer and co-pilot had taken off from Beni, in eastern DRC where military forces are deployed, when they came under fire.
Rebel forces opened fire with high calibre weapons, with at least one round striking the helicopter’s cockpit.
The bullet struck the pilot in the shoulder before hitting the flight engineer, who was sitting behind him, sources said.
It is understood the flight engineer died shortly after he was rushed to hospital in Goma, where the pilot remains in a serious condition.
Sources said the co-pilot, who was uninjured, took control of the aircraft and managed to continue flying to the UN base at Goma.
This is contrary to the preliminary report supplied to the military, and remains subject to further inquiry.
The army, which is awaiting more information from the DRC, said earlier it had been informed “a crew member was fatally shot and another suffered injuries but managed to continue flying the chopper and landed safely at Goma Airport”.
M23 rebel forces have stepped up attacks against UN peacekeepers in recent months.
The UN said the helicopter had taken off from Beni and was flying to Goma when the crew were fired upon.
“The gunfire killed one crew member and seriously injured another peacekeeper.”
Bintou Keita, special representative of the UN secretary-general in the DRC, condemned the attack.
“Attacks on peacekeepers constitute a war crime. Monusco [the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC] will spare no effort in agreement with the Congolese authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
This is a developing story.
TimesLIVE
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