Cape Town

An aviation school aircraft crashed on Tuesday evening. Photo: City of Cape Town

Cape Town plane crash: Crowd allegedly tried to rob pilot and student

The aircraft that crashed in Lower Crossroads belongs to an aviation school. It allegedly experienced engine failure mid-flight on Tuesday evening.

Cape Town

An aviation school aircraft crashed on Tuesday evening. Photo: City of Cape Town

The City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate shed more light on the light aircraft crash that took place in Lower Crossroads on Tuesday evening, 28 June.

CAPE TOWN PLANE CRASH

As previously reported, City of Cape MayCo Member for Safety and Security, Councillor JP Smith, said a light aircraft went down in the Luzuko area of Lower Crossroads shortly before 18:00 on Tuesday.

According to City spokesperson Eckhardt Winks, the light aircraft belongs to a local aviation school that operates at the airport. It was on a training flight with a student when the engine failed.

“Because of the actions of the experienced instructor they were able to land the plane in an open field and managed to escape serious injury. Both occupants have been taken in for medical examinations,” said Winks.

A crowd quickly gathered at the crash site and when the pilot radioed air traffic control to call for urgent assistance, he reportedly said the aircraft’s occupants were being robbed of their personal belongings and the plane was being looted.

Cape Town aircraft crash
A light craft crashed in Cape Town on Tuesday evening. Photo: Supplied.

The City of Cape Town’s Metro Police were first on the scene and secured the area before Law Enforcement and Traffic Services arrived.

The Fire and Rescue Service also dispatched two motor pumps and a rescue vehicle while Airports Company South Africa sent a firefighting appliance that blanketed the aircraft with foam to prevent any ignition.

The police handed the scene to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for further investigation.