A helicopter that went missing during an operational mission in Kruger National Park has been successfully located, with all four occupants found alive after spending the night in a remote bush area.
The aircraft disappeared on Monday while carrying out an investigation linked to an animal carcass discovered inside the park.
Crew forced to spend night in dense bush
Police confirmed that the helicopter made a safe landing in a remote section of the park on Monday.
However, the pilot and three investigators were unable to navigate their way through the thick vegetation and remained stranded overnight.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, the group was spotted on Tuesday morning by a SANParks helicopter search team after being seen waving for assistance.
All four individuals were confirmed safe and unharmed.
Search operation launched after communication failed
The helicopter had been conducting a routine operation involving a pilot, two SAPS investigators, and an environmental crime investigator.
Authorities said the team departed at around 9am on Monday but failed to return as expected.
Initial efforts to contact the crew were unsuccessful, with poor signal conditions believed to have affected communication.
Once concerns escalated later in the evening, a second helicopter equipped with night-vision capability and multiple drones was deployed to begin the search.
Adverse weather conditions forced the helicopter to withdraw, although drones continued searching through the night.
Investigations into the incident are continuing.
Source: SAPS / SANParks / The Citizen
