Two tour guides, Luciano Kooitjie and Juandre Gouws, have been hailed as heroes after successfully rescuing six tourists and a pilot whose plane made an emergency landing near Meob Bay, south of Walvis Bay, on Tuesday afternoon.
The aircraft, operated by Eagle Eye Aviation, was returning from a Sossusvlei Classic scenic flight when it was forced to land in the remote Namib Desert. All seven people on board sustained only minor injuries.
While a police helicopter attempted to reach the group earlier in the day, adverse flying conditions made the mission impossible. Upon hearing of the situation, Kooitjie and Gouws launched an overnight overland rescue under harsh desert winds and difficult dune terrain.
The pair reached the stranded tourists in the early hours of the morning and guided them safely northwards toward Walvis Bay, passing the Eduard Bohlen shipwreck around 07:00 before continuing via Sandwich Harbour.
Their quick response and determination ensured the safe return of all passengers, earning widespread praise for their courage and professionalism.
