Pothole causes airplane crash! | Daily Sun

A Cessna Lancer light aircraft crash-lands on a Gqeberha street. Photo by Luvuyo Mehlwana.

THREE people were lucky to escape when a Cessna Lancer light aircraft landed on a street in Gqeberha.

Emergency services were called about an aircraft that had come down in Ysterhout Street, Algoa Park, Gqeberha, on Thursday, 5 September.

Police confirmed that the aircraft, which was heading to Port Elizabeth Airport from the Northern Cape, was forced to make an emergency landing.

“The 75-year-old male pilot alleged that the aircraft was low on fuel and was forced to make an emergency landing. A pothole and speed bump on the road caused the aircraft to swerve and hit a lamp post,” police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said.

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“The aircraft’s wings and tail section were damaged. No injuries were reported by the pilot and his 33 passengers, and no pedestrians or other traffic on the road were affected by the landing,” said Beetge.

Marius Minnie from EC Towing, who lives near the scene, said: “We heard a big bang. I rushed to the scene to assist, and the ambulance also arrived. The pilot, together with his passengers, looked fine. However, they were in shock. I was worried about an explosion as it was closer to the flats, but it was declared safe by the Fire Department. The aircraft was released to its owner to be salvaged,” he said.

The Civil Aviation Authority was on the scene to begin their investigation into the cause of the crash.