Discovery of body at Durban beach may provide closure for missing pilot's family
MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, hopes that the discovery of a body at a Durban beach, presumed to be that of missing pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray, will bring closure to the family.
Late on Friday night, emergency services, including police and Metro Search and Rescue officials, were called to the scene at Bay of Plenty where the body of a man had washed up on shore.
According to ALS Paramedics spokesperson, Garrith Jamieson, the male, in his 60s, had been assessed and declared deceased at the scene.
KwaZulu-Natal South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said an inquest docket had been opened.
“The unidentifiable body was possibly washed out from the ocean and was wearing a flight suit. Preliminary investigations suggest that it could be the body of the pilot who crashed into the sea last month; however, formal identification processes will be conducted to ascertain the body’s identity,” Netshiunda said.
Echoing police sentiment, National Sea Rescue Institute (NRSI) spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, said while indications are that the body is that of missing pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray, formal Police protocols and formal identification are still in progress to be observed respectfully in cooperation with family.
Duma said he will be liaising with various stakeholders including eThekwini Municipality mayor, Cyril Xaba and Transport Minister, Barbara Creecy.
“Importantly, we sincerely hope that the discovery of the body of Mr Andrew Blackwood-Murray will assist his wife and the whole family to find closure after a prolonged uncertainty and grief. We pray to God to give them strength,” Duma said.
Last month, well-known pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray, went missing following a plane crash in Durban on Thursday, August 14.
At the time, he was part of an airshow linked to the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit 2025, hosted at Virginia Airport. The accident occurred just before 2pm, when the ZS-AEC Extra 300 aircraft that was performing its final display crashed into the sea.
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