A United States-registered light aircraft carrying four people has disappeared over the northern Free State on a flight from Wonderboom airport in Pretoria to Harrismith, the Civil Aviation Authority confirmed on Wednesday.
The Aerostar aircraft left the Wonderboom aerodrome at about 4.30pm on Tuesday and was due to land at Harrismith at 5.30pm, CAA spokesperson Moses Seate said.
About 20 minutes before landing, a passenger on the aircraft phoned a family member by cellphone to ask them to collect them at the aerodrome at 5.30pm.
Seate said that was the last word from the group and the aircraft never landed.
A search and rescue team were now searching the area.
Charles Norval of the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination centre said that there was a strict and disciplined protocol to be followed for flying and landing, so the centre knew the plane’s flight plans and were currently trying to establish what had happened to the group.
Details of the occupants’ identities were not yet available. – Sapa