Civil aviation authorities were on Monday investigating Sunday’s plane crash in Durban in which a light aircraft carrying five Austrian tourists and a pilot nose-dived into the roof of a house.
The general manager of the nearby Virginia airport, Glen Bryce, said: ”Our tower gave the pilot clearance to land but then he did a go-around.”
He said the police and airport officials were clearing the scene of the crash.
Civil aviation authorities will move the aircraft to the airport for further investigation.
The pilot, Alistair Freeman, suffered a broken leg, lacerations and bruising. He is in a stable condition in the St Augustine’s hospital in Durban.
”He’s lucky to be alive,” said a hospital spokesperson on Monday.
The Austrian family’s doctor, Niresh Bechan, said the husband, only known as G Huber, was in a lot of pain. ”He has been moved from the high care unit to the surgical ward after suffering cuts, bruises and lacerations,” said Bechan.
He said Huber’s wife and 12-year-old daughter were treated in the Umhlanga hospital’s casualty ward on Sunday and then discharged, while their son, 10, was in the paediatric ward with lacerations.
Bechan said the wife’s sister underwent surgery for a dislocated shoulder on Sunday.
”The family is stable but still in shock” said Bechan.
On Sunday police said the owner of the house, 72-year-old Alwyn Field, a widower, had been at a bowling club when the aircraft crashed through the roof of house into his lounge and dining room.
”His neighbours phoned to tell him what happened but he thought they were joking until he decided to return home to check,” said Captain Gugu Sabela. – Sapa