Wreckage believed to be of a helicopter that went missing seven years ago was found in a forest near Knysna in the Southern Cape, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said on Saturday.
Spokesperson Phindiwe Gwebu said the wreckage was found with human remains still strapped into two seats. Another body was found outside the helicopter.
”When we looked at our records we found that it might have been a helicopter that went missing in March 1999 with three people, including the pilot.”
According to the CAA’s records, the occupants were on a leisure trip to Knysna from Port Elizabeth. The search team at the time believed that the helicopter had crashed into the sea.
”On Friday, we were notified of a helicopter that was found in the forest. Because we could not find a flight yesterday our investigators, together with pathologists, only flew there this [Saturday] morning.”
Gwebu said the CAA will release more details when the investigation is completed.
South African Broadcasting Corporation news reported that the wreckage matched that of a green BellJet Ranger that crashed in March 1999. On board were Pretoria businessman and pilot Ian MacFarlane (55); his wife, Francis; and his father, Boyd (85).
The trio had been on their way to a bed-and-breakfast lodge in Hoekwil when they crashed between Knysna and Willowmore, the report said. — Sapa