ARCC - Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre

18/05/2026

Thank you NSRI Nsri Richards Bay Netcare911 South African Police Service for your swift actions and response.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NSRI – STATION 19, Richards Bay.

NSRI – Richards Bay – Monday, 18 May. A light aircraft in an emergency landing on a beach:


Norman Rautenbach, NSRI Richards Bay station commander, said:

At 14h58, Sunday, 17 May, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) following reports from ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre) of a light aircraft landed on Long Beach, on the coastline North of Richards Bay, in an emergency landing.

Police and emergency services had been alerted by ARCC. NSRI Richards Bay crew, in our NSRI rescue vehicle and an NSRI crewman's private vehicle, and Netcare 911 ambulance services, responded to asses, in an operation coordinated by ARCC.

It was reported, in communications with the pilot, that there appeared to be no injuries.

On arrival on the scene it was confirmed that the 3 occupants of the light aircraft, a local male pilot and 2 passengers, a male and a female, were not injured.

The pilot, suspecting that contaminated fuel may have contributed to the successful forced emergency landing, he had been transported by a bystander Good Samaritan to get fuel for the aircraft.

Tide times and the high water mark were assessed and the aircraft appeared to be in a safe zone, above the high water mark, on the beach.

On returning to the aircraft the pilot refuelled the aircraft and attempts were made to take off from the beach but in the soft sand and with night fall it was deemed safer to wait on low tide on Monday.

On Monday morning, in the attendance of Richards Bay Fire and Rescue Services and an NSRI Richards Bay crewman, at low tide, the light aircraft successfully took off from the beach and landed safely at Richards Bay Airport, without incident.

The cooperation of all services involved and the coordination of ARCC is commended.

-ENDS-

NSRI EMERGENCY: 087 094 9774

RELEASED BY


Craig Lambinon
NSRI COMMUNICATIONS

Email: [email protected] | Cell: +27 (0) 82 380 3800 | nsri.org.za

21/03/2026

SA-FACTS! Did You Know? ⚓🇿🇦

SAS ADAM KOK III—the South African Navy's Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel—has successfully completed an Operation CORONA patrol along our coastline.

Protecting our maritime sovereignty. Safeguarding economic resources. Supporting coastal communities. 🌊💪

Source || South African Government

05/03/2026

05/03/2026

05/03/2026

Here’s an image of one of the missions conducted over the Christmas weekend by the Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness EMS/AMS rescue helicopter departing Robertson Hospital to transfer a patient to Tygerberg Hospital.

📸: Franna Lombard.

05/03/2026

🚨 On the scene 🚨 HEMS photo of the week: A late night flight for a life saving mission.
Netcare 7 captured here seconds before taking off on an urgent inter-facility transfer of a critically ill premature newborn.

05/03/2026

To the ambulance service providers who support ROCKET HEMS across South Africa: thank you.

You answer the phone at any hour, move crews fast, run scenes properly, and stabilise patients in tough places so safe air transfer is possible. Most of the mission is already won before we arrive; assessment, treatment started, LZ secured, dispatch coordination, and a clean handover.

We see it, and we appreciate it.

03/03/2026

We’re excited to be heading to Aero Club Airweek 2026 at Middelburg Airfield this week! ✈️

From 05–08 March, the aviation community will gather for one of the most anticipated general aviation events of the year — and Mayday-SA will be there.

Come visit our stall to learn more about how we support aviation professionals and their families through life’s unexpected challenges.

Whether you’re a pilot, AMO, ATC, cabin crew, ground crew member or simply passionate about aviation — we’d love to connect.

📍 Find us at the Mayday-SA stand🤝 Let’s strengthen our aviation community together