Desert Air mourns victims of fatal crash

The aviation industry rallied together in harsh weather conditions on Sunday and early Monday in the search for a missing Desert Air aircraft until the burnt-out wreckage of a Cessna 210 was found in the mountains near Hammerstein Lodge.

Desert Air yesterday expressed its condolences to the next of kin of the four victims of the crash.

“Unfortunately, there were no survivors,” the company said.

The aircraft was piloted by an experienced Desert Air pilot and carried three German tourists on board.

“We extend our deepest and sincere condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident," the company said.

"Everyone at Desert Air is deeply devastated by this loss and our thoughts remain with all those affected during this extremely difficult time."

Desert Air chief executive Willem de Wet described the pilot as highly experienced and said he had been flying for Desert Air on a freelance basis since 2019, while also training young pilots. He became a permanent employee in 2023.

Investigation launched

Ben Engelbrecht, an aircraft accident investigator with the Directorate of Aircraft Accident Investigations, confirmed to Namibian Sun’s sister publication Republikein on Monday that the wreckage was found about two kilometres west of Hammerstein Lodge.

He said the aircraft took off on Sunday from the farm Helena, south-east of Hosea Kutako International Airport, en route to Keerweder near Sossusvlei.

“Desert Air has the satellite-based tracking system Spidertracks installed on its aircraft and the signal was lost five minutes before the aircraft was due to land,” Engelbrecht said.

Desert Air confirmed that all next of kin had been informed, but German authorities had not granted permission for the identities, or even the genders, of the tourists to be disclosed.

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