Two people survived an Alberton plane crash on Sunday morning after their light aircraft came down on the grounds of Hoërskool Alberton in the City of Ekurhuleni.
The plane struck the school’s tuckshop during what authorities described as an emergency landing attempt, but both the pilot and a student walked away without injuries.
According to Eyewitness News, the incident occurred at around 11:45 SAST when an instructor and student pilot experienced engine failure while conducting a final evaluation flight for a private pilot’s licence.
City of Ekurhuleni Emergency Services spokesperson Tikki Macdonald said the pilot attempted to land on the school’s rugby field but the aircraft skidded into the tuckshop instead.
“Fortunately, both the instructor and student escaped uninjured,” Macdonald confirmed.
Firefighters and paramedics were dispatched immediately to the scene, where they found the small plane lodged in the building’s side wall .
The crash caused moderate structural damage to the tuckshop, but no pupils or staff were present at the time. Authorities said the quick reaction of the pilot likely prevented a far more serious outcome.
“Given the proximity to surrounding classrooms, this could have been a major tragedy,” one emergency responder said.
The aircraft was part of a local aviation training programme operating out of Rand Airport in Germiston. Aviation experts explain that small planes, such as the one involved, rely heavily on single-engine performance, meaning that a sudden engine failure often leaves the pilot with limited landing options.
When operating over urban areas, pilots are trained to identify open fields or roads to minimise casualties during emergencies.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the engine failure and to assess whether mechanical faults or weather conditions played a role.
The CAA said the investigation would include examining maintenance logs and interviewing the crew to reconstruct the final moments of the flight.
Witnesses from nearby homes reported hearing a loud mechanical sputter followed by a crash.
“We heard a strange noise and then a bang. When we ran outside, we saw smoke and the plane against the building,” said one resident.
City of Ekurhuleni emergency services commended the swift response of first responders, who secured the site and checked for possible fuel leaks. The area was declared safe shortly after 14:00 SAST.
