Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, a spokesperson for the national police, detailed that there were two SAPS officers on board the Eurocopter AS350 aircraft at the time of the crash, and a press release from Rescue Care Operations Director Garrith Jamieson noted that the two pilots escaped unharmed.

Jamieson stated: “Two pilots have escaped injury after the helicopter they … crashed on the Virginia Airport Apron just after 11:30 on Tuesday morning. Rescue Care Paramedics together with SAPS Search and Rescue teams responded to the crash to find the helicopter on its side. Paramedics assessed both crew and found that no injuries had been sustained. The scene was cordoned off to allow the CAA and SAPS to investigate the crash.”

Naidoo added that the crash happened during a training exercise, and that the police are awaiting the results of the investigation that will hopefully confirm the cause of the accident.

Kyle Van Reenan of Crisis Medical confirmed that there were no injuries after the crash. “There was no fire, but firefighters were on the scene as a precaution,” he added.