KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma says he is engaging with the family of one of the two pilots who died in a Midlands aircraft crash on Wednesday to ensure the repatriation of the pilot’s remains to India.

On Thursday, Duma assigned a team from his office to support the families of the two pilots who were killed in the crash.

The pilots were identified as Martin Brown 33, a South African, and Mayank Mayank 28, an Indian national.

Duma said Mayank was the only son, and the family was devastated. 

“We can imagine the pain of waiting for the remains of your only son, who died tragically in the mountains of another country,” he said.

“We wish God to grant them strength. Our prayers are with the Brown family, the aviation school, instructors, and friends.”

According to the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC), both planes were reported missing on Wednesday amid poor weather conditions. 

The ARCC said it received a Mayday call from one of the aircraft, prompting an intensive search and rescue operation.

The first plane and pilot were located in Howick, where the pilot was declared dead at the scene. 

The second aircraft was found on Thursday morning in the Midlands, with the pilot also confirmed dead at the crash site.

Duma said that his department would engage with SAA, the South African Civil Aviation Authority, aviation schools, and other stakeholders to develop a provincial pilot population register.

“It is important for the department to have a clear sense of what is being done to develop the next generation of pilots to sustain the airline industry.”

To ensure the free flow of information to Mayank’s family in India, Duma said he had instructed his team to create a WhatsApp group including key role-players and family members.

He said updates were provided on Friday night and Saturday morning regarding post-mortem procedures. 

MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane had assigned senior management from Forensic Pathology Services and a chief specialist to oversee the autopsies in line with aviation protocols.

“The two aviation cases were autopsied, and post-mortems were completed by lunchtime yesterday,” Duma said.

He added that the bodies were removed with the highest level of sensitivity to the mortuary.

Duma said a meeting with the Office of the Consul General of India in Durban was held and lasted until 8pm.

“All the necessary documents required to fast-track the international movement of the body from KZN to Johannesburg and India were processed,” he said.

The documents will be handed over to the High Commission of India in Pretoria.

Duma confirmed that his department had also engaged the Department of Home Affairs, which will finalise the processing and issuing of a death notice on Saturday.

“Because Mayank is not in our population register as a foreign national, this death notice will be used by his family to apply for a death certificate through India’s Home Affairs Department.”

He added that the department is also working with the Department of Health to obtain the necessary permits and medical certificates for the transfer of the remains.

“We are relying heavily on the staff assigned by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, to manage the international transfer of deceased foreign nationals,” Duma added.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News

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