Pilot walks away after emergency landing on Durban beach

A pilot walked away unharmed after an emergency landing on Durban’s north beach on Sunday afternoon, KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services (EMS) said.

EMS paramedics and eThekwini firefighters responded to the incident at around 2.30pm, EMS spokesman Robert Mckenzie said in a statement.

On arrival at the scene, paramedics found the 30-year-old pilot safely out of the aircraft and talking on his cellphone to air traffic control.

SOUND: Robert Mckenzie, KawZulu-Natal Emergency Services spokesperson

He was examined by an EMS advanced life support paramedic, and after recovering from the initial “shock” of the incident it was confirmed that he had not sustained any injuries. He declined to be taken to hospital.

According to the paramedics who were on scene, the pilot was reportedly taking the plane on a test flight and was on his way back to the airport at the time of the incident.

Not many people had been on that section of beach at the time he landed, but after the event it drew a large crowd of onlookers.

The circumstances surrounding the incident were being investigated, Mckenzie said. -ANA

(File photo: ANA)