Thu, Oct 08, 2009
Pilot Avoided Houses, Crash Landed In A School Sports
Field
Allister Freeman, a pilot for SA Airlink, died Tuesday two
weeks after he made an emergency landing on Merebank Secondary
School’s sports field, impacting a concrete barricade at the
school. Four people were injured in the incident. Three were on the
aircraft: Freeman, his co-pilot Sonja Bierman and flight attendant
Rudelle Oosthuysen. A municipal worker on the ground, Abraham
Mthethwa, was also injured.
The South African newspaper Business Day reports the Jetstream
41 had just departed Durban International Airport in South Africa
when it developed engine problems. The crew reported an engine out
and seeing black smoke coming from the rear of the aircraft. No
passengers were on board at the time of the incident.
Freeman managed to steer the airplane away from several houses
before making the forced landing in the school yard, only about 400
yards from the airport. An SA Airlink spokesperson said it broke
into three pieces.
The South African newspaper The Witness reports Freeman passed
away at Durban’s St Augustine’s Hospital at 0100 local
time Tuesday. He had received severe injuries, including a
punctured lung and spinal fracture. He had undergone surgery, and
was on a ventilator.
Jetstream 41 File Photo
Airlink CEO and managing director Rodger Foster, said Freeman's
piloting skills averted what might have been a disaster. “We
will remember Allister for the role he played in averting what
could otherwise have been a far worse accident,” he said.
Merebank residents have also expressed sadness at
Freeman’s death.
South African authorities are investigating to determine the
cause of the crash.
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