Aviation company sends condolences to uMngeni crash victims’ families
Helicopter instructor Derek Fitzgerald (23) and trainee pilot Richard Morgan (31) were pronounced dead at the scene by Netcare 911 paramedic after the helicopter they were flying plummeted into the uMgeni River.
STARLIGHT Aviation Group, in a statement, confirmed that the two victims of the helicopter crash near Springfield Park yesterday, were a pilot and a student of the pilot school.
WATCH: Helicopter crashes into uMngeni River, occupants dead
Helicopter Instructor Derek Fitzgerald (23) and trainee pilot Richard Morgan (31) were pronounced dead at the scene by an Emer-G-Med paramedic after the helicopter they were flying plummeted into the uMgeni River.
“We are devastated to confirm the loss of one of our instructors and a student in a helicopter crash this morning near the uMgeni River. Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends during this difficult time, and we request that their privacy be respected,” said Klara Fouche, of Starlite Aviation Group, in the statement released yesterday.
Olive Tree Church, on Facebook, paid tribute to Fitzgerald who was a longstanding member of the congregation.
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Ross Rodger said: “I am devastated to let our community know that Derek Fitzgerald was involved in a tragic accident this morning. He and the student he was training were instantly killed in the helicopter they were flying. Derek was one of the best young men I have ever met and I am personally devastated at his loss. Please can I ask that all those who knew him pray and care for the family and for the family of Megan, his girlfriend.”
Eyewitnesses claim that a bird strike is what caused the helicopter to crash, however the South African Civil Aviation Authority is currently investigating and a preliminary report is due within 30 days of the incident.
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