Bodies of 3 people who died in light aircraft crash in KZN to undergo postmortems

DURBAN - The bodies of three young people who died in a light aircraft crash in KwaZulu-Natal will undergo postmortems in Richards Bay on Thursday.

The victims were part of a three-plane formation flying from Virginia Airport in Durban to Pretoria on Sunday.

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Two of the aircrafts went missing that afternoon and were only located the following day.

While one crash resulted in no fatalities, the second – found in dense bush – claimed three lives.

KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Transport said a skilled pathologist would conduct the postmortems of the three young people who died in the aircraft crash.

Once completed, the bodies will be transported to Greytown, where their families can collect them.

The victims have been identified as student pilot Nqobile Biyela, who will be buried in Umlazi, fellow pilot Lulama Msane, who will be laid to rest in Dundee, and student doctor Sphesihle Buthelezi, to be buried in Nkandla.

The families hope to hold funerals this weekend, but said they are waiting for postmortem results first.

Meanwhile, an official investigation into the crash is underway, with a full report expected within 30 days.