Efforts to re-establish contact with a helicopter crew in the Kruger National Park were successful this morning.

The crew, comprising two SAPS forensic members, a SANParks environmental investigator, and a private pilot, was supporting an anti-poaching operation when it went missing yesterday. The helicopter was deployed to assist with a crime scene investigation following the discovery of rhino carcasses.

According to SANParks spokesperson JP Louw, the helicopter landed in a densely vegetated area to allow the investigation team to conduct on-the-ground assessments.

“During the course of the operation, the team reportedly became disoriented due to the thick bush. It is further understood that the GPS device ran out of battery power, resulting in the team being unable to relocate the helicopter,” Louw explains.

He says all crew members were safely located this morning after aerial and ground search teams used advanced technology to navigate the dense terrain.

They are all now ‘safe and healthy’, says Louw.

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