UPDATE: Student pilot who died in KZN aircraft crash identified, three confirmed dead
The missing aircraft in KwaZulu-Natal has been found. The plane crashed near Greytown and the three occupants died.
Image: Niklas Jeromin / Pexels
The search for a missing light aircraft that vanished over KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday has ended in tragedy, with all three occupants confirmed dead after the wreckage was located near Greytown.
This follows an earlier report that the aircraft, which had departed Virginia Airport in Durban at around 3pm on Sunday 8 June 2025, failed to reach its destination and was last tracked flying over Ladysmith.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma extended condolences to the families of the deceased. The student pilot who was flying the plane was identified by the KZN Department of Transport as Nqobile Biyela. The department said they are in touch with her mother Zama Biyela. It added that it would also locate the other two families to convey their condolences.
The Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) explained that a group of three planes had been flying in loose formation across KZN on Sunday. Two of the three planes were involved in accidents.
“The Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) can confirm details on the two aircraft accidents that occurred in KwaZulu-Natal last night, Sunday 8 June 2025,” the division said in a statement.
All three aircraft had been en route from Durban to Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria, with a planned refuelling stop in Ladysmith. However, the Ladysmith Airport did not have night facilities, so all three aircraft diverted to nearby Greytown Airport.
The first accident occurred when a Piper Cherokee (registration ZS-CZU) crashed into bushy terrain during its approach to Greytown Airport. “The two pilots on board were not injured, but the aircraft was damaged,” the division confirmed.
A second aircraft landed safely.
However, the third aircraft, a ZS-KFB with three occupants remained unaccounted for through the night, triggering an extensive search and rescue operation coordinated by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC).
“This morning, Monday 9 June 2025, there was an official search for the third aircraft, a ZS-KFB, that concluded with the wreckage being located in Greytown by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre team,” the AIID confirmed.
“The three occupants on board were declared dead by the South African Police Service.”
AIID investigators have been dispatched to both accident sites. “A preliminary report will be published on the SACAA website in 30 days from the day of the accident.”