Two people have been critically injured after a light aircraft crashed in Austin View, Midrand, north of Johannesburg, on Monday morning.
The Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) confirmed that both occupants were stabilised at the scene and transported to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment.
According to the centre, the aircraft lost contact with Air Traffic Control shortly before the crash, prompting the immediate activation of aeronautical rescue and emergency response protocols.
ARCC Chief of Operations Gregory Critchley said multiple agencies were mobilised through the Gauteng early warning network to respond to the incident.
“The aircraft lost contact with air traffic control and crashed in the Austin View area, Midrand. ARCC immediately activated the early warning network in Gauteng, which includes members of Grand Central Airport Rescue Firefighting, Netcare 911 Rescue, the South African Police Service, Netcare 911 Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, Rocket HEMS, the Gauteng Traffic Police helicopter, Bidvest Protea Coin helicopter, SARZA and Fidelity fire services, who responded immediately,” said Critchley.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Authorities have not yet released further details about the aircraft or those on board.