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15 August 2025
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Tributes flood in for pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray after Durban crash
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Tributes have poured in for pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray, who went missing after a plane crash off the coast of Durban on Thursday, 14 August 2025. Blackwood-Murray was participating in an airshow linked to the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit 2025, hosted at Virginia Airport. The incident occurred just before 2pm when the ZS-AEC Extra 300 aircraft, performing its final display, crashed into the sea. Emergency services quickly responded to Suncoast Beach after eyewitnesses reported seeing the plane plunge into the ocean.
The eThekwini Municipality has closed Battery Beach while search efforts continue. National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) duty coxswain Lorenzo Taverna-Tunisan confirmed that teams are searching for the wreckage. Municipal lifeguards have also deployed resources to extend the search beyond the breakers.
“The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 is assisting in ongoing operations and providing a platform for Police and Metro Police divers to conduct scuba searches,” Taverna-Tunisan said.
Blackwood-Murray, from Johannesburg, had been performing his final display at an airshow during the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit 2025, at Virginia Airport on Thursday, when the aircraft crashed into the sea.
SAPS spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said parts of the aircraft were recovered on Thursday. “We are still searching for the pilot and the remainder of the aircraft. Search and rescue teams have been searching since Thursday,” said Netshiunda.
Personnel from SAPS search and rescue, the K9 unit from Pietermaritzburg, Durban, Port Shepstone and Durban Central, as well as ALS Paramedics, returned to the scene on Friday morning to resume operations after Thursday’s search was called off due to fading light and safety concerns.
Fractured pieces of the ZS-AEC Extra 300 were brought to shore, while scuba divers searched the water for Blackwood-Murray’s body.
Tugboats with divers moved across potential crash sites, and an SAPS search and rescue helicopter was deployed to identify areas requiring further inspection. Diving was stopped just before 4pm on Friday due to poor underwater visibility.
Rescue workers and divers alternated shifts and were briefed by their team leaders.
Community members, workers and spectators in the vicinity expressed shock over the incident, sharing prayers that Blackwood-Murray would be found and for strength for his family.
One employee, who asked not to be named, said she saw the plane crash. “We saw the planes doing acts as part of the show. Then we just saw it crashing in the water. We hope they find him,” she said.
Spectator Magdalene Molepo, who lives in the area, said they had come to the beach to watch the airshow. “There was a conference at first and then they came to do the airshow. There were three planes in the sky and two came down. This plane was left alone for ten minutes or so and then it hit the water. There was a loud noise and the lifeguards rushed to the water but the aeroplane had already sunk,” said Molepo.
Thembeka Cebani, who runs a kiosk on the beach, said the aircraft vanished within minutes of impact. “We were all enjoying the show and the next moment this plane crashed in the sea and nothing could be seen. People were running to the beach to help but the plane just disappeared. We feel very bad for the pilot. We are praying he is found,” said Cebani.
Update: 18 August 2025
There are no new developments in the ongoing search for missing aerobatic pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray along Durban’s central coastline, after his plane crashed during an aerial display near Suncoast beach last Thursday.
The spokesperson for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Craig Lambinon, said, “We are appealing to the public and the maritime community to report any findings of debris – that may be related to the light aircraft accident, along the Durban shoreline and at sea – to Police at 10111, to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) at 087 094 9774 or on marine VHF radio to Durban Radio (Telkom Maritime Radio Services) or Durban Port Control, so that any findings can be recovered to support the AIID (Accident and Incident Investigation Division) and the police investigation into the catastrophic incident.”
He continued, “Advanced technology and advanced search technology continues to be deployed in the ongoing search. Weather and sea conditions have not been a factor and have not hampered ongoing search efforts.”
Services involved in the search include police divers (Police Search and Rescue) who are leading the search, supported by aviation and aeronautical authorities, NSRI Durban and NSRI Umhlanga, the SAPS, the Police Air Wing, Police Communications, ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre), AIID, SACAA (Civil Aviation Authority), MRCC (Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority), Port of Durban Port Control, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, the SA Navy, eThekwini Municipal authorities, eThekwini Metro Police and Metro Police Search and Rescue, eThekwini lifeguards, and assisted by EC Government Health EMS, Government Health Forensic Pathology Services, Netcare 911 ambulance services and Red Line Response ambulance services.
Tributes pouring in
Friends and fellow aviation enthusiasts have taken to social media to honour Blackwood-Murray, describing him as a “world-class pilot and true gentleman.”
John Walland remembered the 61-year-old as a warm and passionate man whose skills touched many lives. “Andrew, your spirit will forever soar in the skies you loved,” he wrote.
Tributes also appeared on Blackwood-Murray’s final Facebook post. Venessa Richardson said, “Gonna miss you. A gentleman, an amazing pilot. Andrew was always willing to chat, no matter how busy he was. He will certainly leave a gap in the airshow display calendar.”
Ryan Douwie added, “My heart bleeds, Andrew. You were such a gentleman. I’m glad I had the pleasure of sharing a classroom with you as part of the Airways April intake.”
Sources: NSRI, The Witness,
The eThekwini Municipality has closed Battery Beach while search efforts continue. National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) duty coxswain Lorenzo Taverna-Tunisan confirmed that teams are searching for the wreckage. Municipal lifeguards have also deployed resources to extend the search beyond the breakers.
“The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 is assisting in ongoing operations and providing a platform for Police and Metro Police divers to conduct scuba searches,” Taverna-Tunisan said.
Blackwood-Murray, from Johannesburg, had been performing his final display at an airshow during the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit 2025, at Virginia Airport on Thursday, when the aircraft crashed into the sea.
SAPS spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said parts of the aircraft were recovered on Thursday. “We are still searching for the pilot and the remainder of the aircraft. Search and rescue teams have been searching since Thursday,” said Netshiunda.
Personnel from SAPS search and rescue, the K9 unit from Pietermaritzburg, Durban, Port Shepstone and Durban Central, as well as ALS Paramedics, returned to the scene on Friday morning to resume operations after Thursday’s search was called off due to fading light and safety concerns.
Fractured pieces of the ZS-AEC Extra 300 were brought to shore, while scuba divers searched the water for Blackwood-Murray’s body.
Tugboats with divers moved across potential crash sites, and an SAPS search and rescue helicopter was deployed to identify areas requiring further inspection. Diving was stopped just before 4pm on Friday due to poor underwater visibility.
Rescue workers and divers alternated shifts and were briefed by their team leaders.
Community members, workers and spectators in the vicinity expressed shock over the incident, sharing prayers that Blackwood-Murray would be found and for strength for his family.
One employee, who asked not to be named, said she saw the plane crash. “We saw the planes doing acts as part of the show. Then we just saw it crashing in the water. We hope they find him,” she said.
Spectator Magdalene Molepo, who lives in the area, said they had come to the beach to watch the airshow. “There was a conference at first and then they came to do the airshow. There were three planes in the sky and two came down. This plane was left alone for ten minutes or so and then it hit the water. There was a loud noise and the lifeguards rushed to the water but the aeroplane had already sunk,” said Molepo.
Thembeka Cebani, who runs a kiosk on the beach, said the aircraft vanished within minutes of impact. “We were all enjoying the show and the next moment this plane crashed in the sea and nothing could be seen. People were running to the beach to help but the plane just disappeared. We feel very bad for the pilot. We are praying he is found,” said Cebani.
Update: 18 August 2025
There are no new developments in the ongoing search for missing aerobatic pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray along Durban’s central coastline, after his plane crashed during an aerial display near Suncoast beach last Thursday.
The spokesperson for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Craig Lambinon, said, “We are appealing to the public and the maritime community to report any findings of debris – that may be related to the light aircraft accident, along the Durban shoreline and at sea – to Police at 10111, to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) at 087 094 9774 or on marine VHF radio to Durban Radio (Telkom Maritime Radio Services) or Durban Port Control, so that any findings can be recovered to support the AIID (Accident and Incident Investigation Division) and the police investigation into the catastrophic incident.”
He continued, “Advanced technology and advanced search technology continues to be deployed in the ongoing search. Weather and sea conditions have not been a factor and have not hampered ongoing search efforts.”
Services involved in the search include police divers (Police Search and Rescue) who are leading the search, supported by aviation and aeronautical authorities, NSRI Durban and NSRI Umhlanga, the SAPS, the Police Air Wing, Police Communications, ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre), AIID, SACAA (Civil Aviation Authority), MRCC (Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority), Port of Durban Port Control, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, the SA Navy, eThekwini Municipal authorities, eThekwini Metro Police and Metro Police Search and Rescue, eThekwini lifeguards, and assisted by EC Government Health EMS, Government Health Forensic Pathology Services, Netcare 911 ambulance services and Red Line Response ambulance services.
Tributes pouring in
Friends and fellow aviation enthusiasts have taken to social media to honour Blackwood-Murray, describing him as a “world-class pilot and true gentleman.”
John Walland remembered the 61-year-old as a warm and passionate man whose skills touched many lives. “Andrew, your spirit will forever soar in the skies you loved,” he wrote.
Tributes also appeared on Blackwood-Murray’s final Facebook post. Venessa Richardson said, “Gonna miss you. A gentleman, an amazing pilot. Andrew was always willing to chat, no matter how busy he was. He will certainly leave a gap in the airshow display calendar.”
Ryan Douwie added, “My heart bleeds, Andrew. You were such a gentleman. I’m glad I had the pleasure of sharing a classroom with you as part of the Airways April intake.”
Sources: NSRI, The Witness,
