Rescue teams are intensifying their effort to locate a 61-year-old pilot from Johannesburg who went missing after his aircraft crashed into the ocean off Durban’s Suncoast Beach on Thursday afternoon.

The incident occurred around 1:45 PM during the pilot’s final aerobatic display at the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Global Summit airshow. The incident occurred around 1:45 PM during the pilot’s final aerobatic display at the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Global Summit airshow.

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Emergency services, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), Metro Police Search and Rescue, and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), responded promptly when the aircraft ZS-AEC Extra 300 crashed while performing its routine, when it spiraled downward and plunged into the sea. The emergency services recovered parts of the wreckage but no sign of the pilot.

Specialized units, including police divers, to assist in the search have been activated by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre. Recovery efforts have been complicated due to the high tide conditions; these conditions have extended the search area beyond the crash site.

To facilitate the ongoing search and ensure safety, Battery Beach has been closed temporarily to the public by the eThekwini Municipality. Local authorities are coordinating with the South African Civil Aviation Authority, which has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

The pilot, a seasoned aviator with experience in both aerobatics and commercial aviation, was the sole occupant of the aircraft. Tributes have poured in from the aviation community, with colleagues describing him as a gentleman and a notable figure in South African aviation.

As of Friday morning, the search operation is set to resume, with authorities urging the public to avoid the area to allow emergency services to carry out their work effectively.