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Young pilot dies in helicopter crash after colliding with power line in Wolseley, Western Cape
A crop-dusting helicopter crashed after hitting an overhead power cable in Wolseley in the Western Cape, killing the pilot and disrupting electricity supply in the area on Tuesday morning, 19 January 2021. Eskom confirmed the crash in a tweet, saying the electricity supply to Ceres was interrupted around 9am on Tuesday morning “due to a helicopter crash into the 132kV Romansrivier/Wittenberg line”. Eskom indicated that the electricity supply would be restored once the crash site had been cleared. Captain FC van Wyk of the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that the pilot had died in the crash. “This office can confirm a helicopter crash on a farm near Wolseley on 2021-01-19,” said van Wyk. The owner of the farm where the crash took place contacted the police at approximately 19h45am, according to van Wyk, who added that the young pilot, whose age is unknown, was fatally injured. The Civil Aviation Authority stated that the helicopter hit electrical power lines across its flight path and crashed, fatally injuring the pilot, who was the only person in the helicopter. “It is vital to point out that investigations can vary in complexity and may at times take a bit of time to complete,” SACAA spokesperson Kabelo Ledwaba said. “Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the investigating team will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate action can be taken. A preliminary report will be issued within 30 days from the day of this accident.”
Source: The South African, IOL Picture: Twitter/@Bosbeer2006 |
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