Search for Missing Pilot Continues

On 14 August 2025, Lorenzo Taverna-Turisan, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said: An extensive search operation coordinated by ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre) is ongoing at Durban North Beach about half a nautical mile offshore following an aircraft accident involving a light aircraft that ditched in the ocean during an air show on Thursday just before 14h00.

The male solo pilot, age 61, from Johannesburg, remains missing.

3 NSRI rescue craft are on the scene offshore of Durban North Beach assisting in search efforts while providing a platform for Police Search and Rescue divers and Metro Police Search and Rescue divers, who are conducting scuba dive search efforts for the missing man.

NSRI Durban shore crew and NSRI Durban rescue coordinators, a Police helicopter, Netcare 911 ambulance services, eThekwini Municipal lifeguards, the SA Police Services, ALS paramedics, eThekwini Fire and Rescue Services and aviation authorities are on the scene assisting.

TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Durban Port Control, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) are assisting in the coordination of the search and rescue operation, in cooperation with ARCC and Police divers.

2 NSRI rescue craft (from NSRI Durban and NSRI Umhlanga) were in attendance on the water nearby when the accident occurred.
Despite the immediate and swift response and the ongoing extensive sea and air search operation, including Police divers, Metro Police divers, a Police helicopter and the NSRI rescue craft, there remains no signs of the missing man.

An investigation will be opened by Police and by Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID).

All thoughts, care and compassion are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time.

15 August 2025 Update:

On Friday, 15 August the NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base is being used as a command post for the JOCC (Joint Operations Command Centre) in the ongoing search operation led by Police Search and Rescue divers, in cooperation with ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre) and AIID (Accident and Incident Investigation Division), as well as Aviation authorities, for the missing pilot, following yesterday’s tragic light aircraft accident offshore of Durban North Beach.

Since the early hours of Friday morning, from first light, Metro Police, eThekwini Municipal lifeguards and the SA Police Services, have continued to recover wreckage washed ashore overnight.

eThekwini Municipal lifeguards deployed lifeguards and resources to search out to sea in an ongoing search and to recover wreckage beyond the back breakers.

The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 will be deployed to assist in the ongoing search and to provide a platform for Police divers and Metro Police divers in ongoing scuba dive search efforts.

This is an ongoing search operation.

The search grid coordinates are being evaluated in cooperation with NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) using advanced search technology taking into account sea drift patterns.

We are appealing for sensitivity in this tragic incident.

We embrace the family, friends and colleagues of the missing man in this difficult time.

17 August Update:

There are no new developments in the ongoing search for missing SAA (South African Airways) and aerobatic pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray, age 61, from Johannesburg, along Durban’s North Coast.

The search and recovery operation, led by Police divers, is ongoing.

Advanced technology and advanced search technology continues to be deployed in the ongoing search.

Weather and sea conditions has not been a factor and has not hampered ongoing search efforts.

Services involved – Police divers (Police Search and Rescue) are leading the search, supported by Aviation and Aeronautical authorities, NSRI Durban and NSRI Umhlanga, the SA Police Services, the Police Air Wing, Police Communications, ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre), AIID (Accident and Incident Investigation Division), SACAA (Civil Aviation Authority), MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Durban Port Control, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, the SA Navy, eThekwini Municipal authorities, eThekwini Metro Police and Metro Police Search and Rescue, eThekwini lifeguards, and assisted by EC Government Health EMS, Government Health Forensic Pathology Services, Netcare 911 ambulance services and Red Line Response ambulance services.

We are appealing to public and the maritime community to report any findings of debris – that may be related to the light aircraft accident, along the Durban shoreline and at sea, to Police at 10111, to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) at 0870949774 or on marine VHF radio to Durban Radio (Telkom Maritime Radio Services) or Durban Port Control, so that any findings can be recovered to support the AIID and the Police investigation into the catastrophic incident.

Family, friends and colleagues of the missing man are being cared for, supported, and are regularly briefed, in this difficult time.

The tremendous outpouring of support and compassion from the aviation community, the public and all involved, is commended.

20 August Update:

Police divers (Police Search and Rescue) are continuing in ongoing efforts in search and recovery operations.

On Tuesday and continuing on Wednesday an NSRI rescue craft, an SA Navy craft and Police Search and Rescue (Police divers) mapped and are mapping a debris field imagery of the sea bed in the search area using advanced search technology – a NORBIT MULTI BEAM SONAR – volunteered by a Johannesburg premier survey company SEA SHADOW, and facilitated by DURBAN MARINE.

Their contribution assisting in the search is commended.

Assisting in the efforts on Tuesday local Good Samaritan Peter Jacobs, from GARMIN, using a Sport and Recreational System, ran a search grid using their private craft to gather additional debris field imagery.

Their contribution assisting in the search is commended.

SA Navy divers, DUC (Durban Underwater Club) and a RESCUE SA diver has assisted Police divers in the ongoing search efforts.

Dive efforts to recover wreckage, led by Police Search and Rescue, are continuing.

Metro Police, eThekwini authorities and eThekwini lifeguards remain on alert to recover wreckage washed ashore.

We are continuing to appeal to public and the maritime community to report any findings of debris and wreckage – that may be related to the light aircraft accident, along the Durban shoreline and at sea, to Police at 10111, to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) at 0870949774 or on marine VHF radio to Durban Radio (Telkom Maritime Radio Services) or Durban Port Control, so that any findings can be recovered to support the AIID and the Police investigation into the catastrophic incident.

All wreckage recovered has been taken into the care of a Metro Police hanger at Virginia Airport for the AIID (Accident and Incident Investigation Division) and the Police ongoing investigation.

Personal items have been returned to family and arrangements are being made to return additional personal items recovered.

Family are in the care of authorities and are briefed in cooperation with friends and colleagues.

Family has respectfully requested privacy in this difficult time.

The outpouring of support from SAA (South African Airways), friends, colleagues, and the aviation community is commended.