Durban – The two pilots who lost their lives in separate aircraft crashes earlier this week have been named as 33-year-old Martin Brown, a South African, and 28-year-old Mayank, an Indian National.
Both aircraft had departed in loose formation from Secunda Airport en route to Margate Regional Airport on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, when tragedy struck in poor weather.
The first aircraft crashed near Nottingham Road, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, while the other was found North of Boston.
It has since been established that one of the deceased pilots was from India.
Giving an update on Saturday, 18 October 2025, the KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said the family of the Indian pilot has been informed of the tragedy.
MEC Duma said the family has outlined “strict guidelines and protocols to follow” regarding the repatriation of the body.
“I have personally expressed my deepest condolences to both families,” he said.
“Mayank was the only son, and the family is devastated.
“We can imagine the pain of waiting for the remains of your only son, who died tragically in mountains in another country.”
MEC Duma added: “We wish God to grant them strength.
“Our prayers are with the Brown family, the aviation school, instructors, and friends.”
The two aviation cases were autopsied, and postmortems were completed by lunchtime yesterday, Friday, 17 October 2025.
Local authorities met with the Office of the Consular General of India in Durban regarding the repatriation of the remains of the indian pilot.
MEC Duma said all the necessary documents required to fast-track the international movement of the body from KZN to Johannesburg and India were processed.
The documents will be handed over to the High Commission of India in Pretoria.
“We have engaged the Department of Home Affairs who will today finalize the processing and issuing of a death notice,” said MEC Duma.
“Because Mayank is not in our population register as a foreign national, this death notice will be used by his family to apply for a death certificate through India’s Home Affairs Department.
”We are also engaging the Department of Health to obtain the necessary permits and medical certificates to ensure the transfer of the mortal remains.”
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation will manage the transfer of the deceased.
