Search and rescue teams in Durban are still trying to find missing pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray, who disappeared almost a week ago after his light aircraft crashed into the ocean.
One week on, no sign of Andrew Blackwood-Murray
The 61-year-old pilot went down just before 14:00 on Thursday, 13 August 2025, while performing his final display at the Virginia Airshow. Despite daily search efforts, no trace of him has been found so far.
To improve their chances, teams have started using advanced underwater technology. According to National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon, a Norbit multi-beam sonar is now being used to scan the seabed.
For readers unfamiliar with the term, sonar works like an underwater radar. It sends sound waves into the ocean and measures how they bounce back, creating a picture of what lies beneath.
This helps divers and rescuers “see” objects on the seabed that are invisible to the human eye.
The sonar system was offered by a Johannesburg-based company called Sea Shadow and is being managed in Durban by Durban Marine.
In addition, Peter Jacobs from Garmin volunteered his private craft and used a sport and recreational mapping system to gather more images of the seabed. Lambinon praised Jacobs’ efforts, calling it an important contribution to the search.
Andrew Blackwood-Murray was flying an Extra 300 aircraft, a small aerobatic plane designed for airshows. He had just completed a performance at the Virginia Airshow, which formed part of the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit 2025, when his plane struck the ocean.
The crash shocked aviation fans.
Photographer Justin de Reuck, a close friend, posted a tribute the day after the accident:
“Nothing ever prepares you for this. Rest in Peace, my friend. It was always an honour sharing the skies with you. A gentleman and an aviator of note. So long.”
In one of his last social media posts, Blackwood-Murray wrote about his pride in flying in the “Missing Man Formation,” a traditional airshow salute, at Virginia Airport just a day before the crash.
While sonar teams search below the surface, local lifeguards, Metro Police, and eThekwini municipal authorities are patrolling the coastline. Their role is to recover any wreckage that might wash ashore.
Lambinon appealed to members of the public, especially boaters and fishermen, to report anything unusual they spot in the water.
Findings can be reported by calling the police at 10111, contacting the NSRI emergency line at 087 094 9774, or using marine VHF radio to reach Durban Radio or Durban Port Control.
Any debris recovered will assist the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), which is investigating the crash. SACAA can also be contacted directly on 060 991 9915.
Almost a week later, the search continues with no confirmed discoveries.
Rescuers remain hopeful that the combination of high-tech sonar, aerial searches, and community vigilance will eventually provide answers for Blackwood-Murray’s family and colleagues.