c212 airforce plane

SA Airforce C212 crash landing. Image: SA Airforce

Investigation spurred on following SA Airforce plane crash

SA Airforce personnel survived a crash landing at a base in the Northern Cape with sustaining any injuries.

c212 airforce plane

SA Airforce C212 crash landing. Image: SA Airforce

A board of inquiry will be established to determine the crash landing of a South African Airforce plane the Combat Training Centre Lohatla, in Northern Cape on Wednesday.

SA AIRFORCE PLANE DAMAGED

The members of the media had been transported with the SA Airforce CASA-212 from the 44 Squadron at Waterkloof Airforce base prior to the accident.

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South African National Defence Force spokesperson Andries Mokoena Mahapa says the incident occurred after the execution of one of the manoeuvres of dropping para troopers as part of Exercise Vukuhlome 2023.

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“The members of the South African Medical Health Service were swiftly on sight to provide necessary medical support, and all members on board the aircraft were confirmed safe, as there were no injuries sustained”, says Mahapa.

HISTORY OF THE PLANE

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According to the military website Defence Web, the SA Airforce inherited four C212s in 1994 from the air wings of the former Bophuthatswana, Transkei and Venda states. Registrations are 8020, 8021, 8010 and 8011.

The planes have been involved in a few accidents over the last 15 years.

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In October 2008, 8021 was damaged, getting caught in a gust of wind on takeoff from Air Force Base Bloemspruit. Five years later, at the safe Air Force base, in January 2013, 8020 landed heavily and ran off the runway. On 12 May this year, 8010 was landing at AFB Waterkloof when the brakes locked, and the aircraft ran off the side of the runway.

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