{"id":69585,"date":"2014-09-25T17:02:09","date_gmt":"2014-09-25T15:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/?p=69585"},"modified":"2014-09-25T17:38:54","modified_gmt":"2014-09-25T15:38:54","slug":"helicopter-crashes-two-die","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2014\/09\/25\/helicopter-crashes-two-die\/","title":{"rendered":"Warning Graphic Photos: Helicopter crashes, two die"},"content":{"rendered":"

A helicopter crashed this afternoon in Driehoek leaving two people dead.<\/p>\n

According to spokesman for the Germiston SAPS, WO Andr\u00e9 de Jager, the two people in the helicopter, a male and a female died on impact and the Germiston SAPS have opened an inquest docket for investigation.<\/p>

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Eyewitnesses told the GCN that they heard the helicopter and it sounded as if it was backfiring.<\/p>\n

A risk manager at Imperial Retail Logistics, who does not wish to be named, said: “As I walked downstairs I heard the helicopter and it sounded like it was backfiring.<\/p>

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“I looked up and it came straight down nose first.<\/p>\n

“When it hit the ground it burst into flames.”<\/p>\n

The risk manager immediately mobilised the company’s fire team members who rushed to the scene to try and combat the blaze until emergency services arrived.<\/p>\n

“We used about 10 fire extinguishers to try and stop the burning,” he said.
\nEkurhuleni Emergency Services and paramedics from various organisations rushed to the scene.<\/p>\n

“Exact details as to the cause of the crash and preceding events are still unclear and will remain the subject of a SA Civil Aviation Authority investigation,” said Santi Steinmann, media liaison officer from Netcare Limited.<\/p>\n

“Paramedics and other services arrived on scene and found the remains of the burnt-out helicopter, tragically both people in the helicopter were already dead prior to the arrival of the paramedics.”<\/p>\n

The GCN was able to reach Andre Coetzee, CEO of Henley Air, based at Rand Airport, the operators of the helicopter.<\/p>\n

“Details of what exactly happened are very sketchy at this time,” he said.<\/p>\n

“It is currently under investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority.<\/p>\n

“We do know that the helicopter was a vehicle tracking helicopter, coming back from Pretoria.”<\/p>\n

The GCN contacted the SA Civil Aviation Authority for comment on the matter but were told that the Department of Transport needs to comment on the crash.<\/p>\n

All attempts to contact them have failed so far.<\/p>\n

Related articles:<\/p>\n

Reports confirm that Matrix Vehicle Tracking helicopter crashed.<\/a><\/p>\n