Madiba’s medical crew ‘not in crash’
Date: 8 November 2012
The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) has denied a report that the aircraft that crashed at the Mthatha Airport in Eastern Cape was transporting former president Nelson Mandela’s medical personnel.
“This activity had no connection to the medical support that is normally rendered to the former president. The plane was not transporting medicine or his [Mandela’s] doctors,” Brigadier-General Xolani Mabanga said today.
He said it was not yet clear how many people were on the plane when it crash-landed at the airport yesterday morning.
Today, the Dispatch Online reported that 16 people, including pilots and doctors, were taken to hospital for medical check-ups after the SANDF military aircraft crash-landed.
Eastern Cape police said it was not clear what caused the crash, and that the aircraft had sustained some damage.
“The engine was damaged, as well as the right wing and propeller,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela.
He said an investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the incident.
Source: City Press
