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Durban – The department of international relations and co-operation (Dirco) is working with the South African embassy in Beijing to repatriate the remains of a South African pilot killed at an air show in China on Saturday, the department said on Sunday.
Dirco spokesperson, Nelson Ngwete, told News24 the department was in contact with the family of a man who had reportedly been identified as Michel Leusch from Durban, a pilot of an aerobatic aircraft that reportedly crashed during an air show in north-central China's Gansu province on Saturday morning.
“The department is assisting the family through the Beijing embassy to provide assistance in repatriating the remains of the South African man. The department is also working with the Chinese authorities to get clarity on what happened,” said Ngwete.
News24 reported on Saturday that Leusch, 33, was part of a group of South African trick pilots participating in air shows in China, according to a Netwerk24 report.
The plane crash reportedly occurred during the 1st Silk Road International General Aviation Convention in the city of Zhangye.
An XA42 associated with a Shenyang-based aerobatic team reportedly failed to pull out of a dive while performing a stunt and crashed, Xinhua News Agency reported.
The Chinese authorities reportedly confirmed that a South African pilot was killed.
Footage of the crash showed the plane suddenly losing control, heading downwards and hitting the ground.
