Plane crash victims identified

Update Video

MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has expressed sadness over the passing of three South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) employees who died in a plane crash in the Robinson Pass area.

The aircraft (a Cessna S550 Citation S/II) crashed into mountains in the area yesterday, Thursday 23 January), shortly after take-off from George Airport.

Three crew members, a woman and two men, were on-board the light aircraft at the time.

Captain Thabiso Tolo, First Officer Tebogo Lekalakala and Gugu Mnguni - the flight inspector - were traveling from George Airport on a flight calibration mission.

All three bodies have been retrieved from the wreckage.

“My sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased," said Mbalula in a statement this afternoon. "We wish to thank SACAA for their swift response to this tragedy and we offer our support in their endeavors to get to the bottom of what transpired."

Investigations into the cause of the crash are still underway.