Looters Rob Survivors of Light Aircraft Crash Near Lower Crossroads, Cape Town
A light aircraft went down near Lower Crossroads, a township near Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday evening. According to several reports, the two occupants – a pilot and his student from a local aviation school – survived the crash but were robbed by local residents. City of Cape Town’s JP Smith said: “The City’s […]
A light aircraft went down near Lower Crossroads, a township near Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday evening. According to several reports, the two occupants – a pilot and his student from a local aviation school – survived the crash but were robbed by local residents.
City of Cape Town’s JP Smith said: “The City’s emergency services is aware of a light aircraft that went down in lower crossroads, in the Luzuko area just before 18h00. Reports of both occupants been injured, all emergency services are en-route. Further updates will follow.”
Cape Town’s EMS spokesperson Eckardt Winks told News24: “A crowd quickly gathered around the plane. The pilot radioed air traffic, calling for urgent assistance, complaining that they were being robbed of their personal belongings, and the aircraft looted.
“Cape Town metro police were the first on the scene. They managed to secure the area, followed by the arrival of our law enforcement and traffic services. Fire and rescue services dispatched motor pumps and a water tanker.”
To many shocked social media commenters who didn’t believe the reports of looting, resident Mish Naku said: “I live in the area. One thing I know is that when one has an accident here, the first thing that will probably happen to you is get mugged, then people will call emergency services. So from my experience looting of the plane and stealing personal belongings of the injured people probably happened.”
Winks said: “The pilot and his student were on a training flight when they experienced engine failure. They were able to land the plane in an open field and escape serious injuries. Both occupants were taken for medical observation.”
Following another light aircraft crash-landing recently, one social media commenter said: “These light aircrafts are a danger to anyone now. Now when we crossing roads we must look left, right and above.”