Durban – Sixty-one-year-old pilot, Andrew Blackwood Murray, whose plane crashed into the sea near Suncoast Casino in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, remains missing.
The tragedy occurred on Thursday, 14 August 2025, during the airshow at the Durban North Coast Beach.
The search for the pilot continued on Saturday, 16 August 2025.
Police divers, Metro Police in Durban, and ALS Paramedics are involved in the search.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has released a statement in which it said it was “saddened by the aircraft accident”.
The statement said the Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) confirmed that the incident occurred at approximately 13:45 when an Extra 300 aircraft (registration ZS-AEC) crashed into the sea while performing its final display.
“Emergency medical services and law enforcement responded immediately to the scene,” the statement said.
“A search and rescue operation commenced shortly after the crash and is ongoing.
The Director of Civil Aviation, Poppy Khoza, said: “We are saddened by the incident and are keeping the pilot, family, and friends in our thoughts as rescue efforts continue.
“Our focus now is on the mission currently unfolding, appreciating the efforts of the teams on the ground and wishing them strength as they continue with the mission”.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is being carried out by the AIID.
On Saturday, 16 August 2025, ALS Paramedics spokesperson, Garrith Jamieson, said: “The operation is ongoing currently”.
