A chopper was forced to make an emergency landing at Cape Town International Airport after experiencing mechanical problems shortly after take-off.
|||Johannesburg - A helicopter made an emergency landing at Cape Town International Airport late on Thursday afternoon due to mechanical problems experienced soon after take-off.
The city's disaster management spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said initial reports were that the aircraft landed at around 5.04pm.
“It had a hard landing. The pilot in command said the helicopter developed mechanical problems shortly after take-off from its base at the Cape Town International Airport en route to Franschoek,” he said.
“There were no fatalities in the incident, and the two pilots and two passengers on board have not sustained any injuries.”
According to the pilot, the rear rotor of the helicopter malfunctioned and a decision was made to return to its base.
Solomons-Johannes said the Robinson R44 helicopter landed safely on an open field west of the airport.
“Emergency repairs to the four-seater aircraft were made and a test flight was performed shortly thereafter.”
The South African Civil Aviation Authority would be informed so that an investigation could be instituted into the incident. - Sapa