KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Transport officials have confirmed that the second aircraft involved in the Nottingham Road plane crash has been found, following two days of intense search and rescue efforts in misty Midlands conditions.
According to KwaZulu-Natal Transport spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya, a report received from experts at the Aeronautical Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) confirmed that the second missing aircraft was successfully located earlier today.
“We have just received the report from the experts at the Aeronautical Search and Rescue Coordination Centre,” said Sibiya.
“They have managed to locate the second aircraft. These are very encouraging developments.”
Sibiya added that the recovery teams — made up of several government departments and private rescue organisations — are now focusing on retrieving the body of the pilot found in one of the aircraft yesterday evening.
“Different spheres of government are working together to retrieve the body of the pilot that was located last night. We are happy that the weather is clearing up, and the team is continuing with operations,” he said.
He also conveyed condolences on behalf of the MEC for Transport, Siboniso Duma, who expressed deep sympathy to the families of both pilots who lost their lives in the tragedy.
The confirmation comes a day after two light aircraft went missing near Nottingham Road, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
The Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre, which is responsible for coordinating air search and rescue missions across South Africa, said distress signals were received from two aircraft — identified as ZU-PBC and ZU-PBD — on Wednesday, 15 October 2025.
ARCC Chief of Operations Gregory Critchley said search teams found one of the missing planes on Wednesday night west of Howick, within the primary search area.
“The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, suffered fatal injuries,” Critchley confirmed in a statement.
The search for the second plane continued through the night, with teams facing thick mist, low visibility, and challenging terrain. The ARCC deployed multiple rescue units, including the South African Police Service (SAPS) Search and Rescue Team, Search and Rescue South Africa KZN, Mountain Search and Rescue, Hamnet Emergency Communications, K9 Search and Rescue Association of South Africa, Midlands Emergency Medical Services, IPSS Medical Rescue, Freddie’s Fire and Rescue Services, and Clandestine Drone Operations.
These combined teams used advanced drone and radar technology to detect the second aircraft’s location.
“They used cutting-edge technology last night to locate the first plane and pilot, and the same system is now being used to retrieve the body and secure the second site,” Sibiya explained.
Authorities said the clearer weather conditions today are expected to assist in the ongoing recovery operation, which remains underway in the Midlands area.
The Department of Transport has urged the public to avoid the area while emergency teams complete their work.
The crash investigation will continue under the supervision of aviation safety officials once both wreckage sites are secured.