A small aircraft crash-landed in Midrand on Tuesday afternoon after reportedly suffering engine failure, leaving one person injured and causing major traffic disruptions in the area.
The Cessna 172 came down between New Road and Old Pretoria Main Road, west of Grand Central Airport’s Runway 17.
A police official at the scene said the aircraft was suspected to have experienced mechanical problems. A student pilot and an instructor were reportedly on board at the time of the incident.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority’s Accidents and Incidents Investigations Division (AIID) said preliminary information indicated that the aircraft experienced engine failure before the pilot carried out a forced landing.
“The aircraft reported engine failure before executing a forced landing,” the AIID said.
Following the crash, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) closed the northbound section of the road between the affected intersections, resulting in significant traffic congestion.
Airport officials and emergency services were also deployed to the scene.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said a secondary motor vehicle accident occurred at the same location following the aircraft crash.
The AIID confirmed that one person was injured in the incident. Further details about the condition of the occupants were not immediately available.
Emergency Medical Services worked to secure and clear the scene, while sand was spread across the roadway to absorb fuel that had leaked from the aircraft.
The fuel spill also left a strong smell in and around the area.
The AIID has launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash and establish what caused the aircraft to lose engine power.