Two British Nationals Killed in Light Aircraft Crash in Namib Desert
By Aneli Fura
Two British nationals died on Wednesday evening after a light aircraft crashed at the Gobabeb Namib Research Institute in the Namib Desert in the Erongo Region.
The crash reportedly occurred at around 21h00 while the two occupants were conducting wildlife research in the area.
Acting director of aircraft accident and incident investigations in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Hafeni Mweshixwa, said there were only two people on board the aircraft at the time of the crash. One of the occupants was identified as a senior pilot, while the identity of the second person has not yet been confirmed.
Both occupants died in the crash. Mweshixwa added that the incident was reported to authorities later during the night.
He further stated that the aircraft involved in the accident is registered in the United Kingdom. It is also not yet known whether the two deceased were based in Namibia.
The Gobabeb Namib Research Institute is a centre for dry-land training and research located in the Namib Desert, about 120 kilometres south-east of Walvis Bay.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
