A picture of a badly damaged SANParks helicopter has been shared on social media. SANParks issued an official statement on the incident saying an Airbus AS350B-3+ (Squirrel) helicopter was damaged after losing control during take off from Cape Town International Airport on January 2.
“The pilot who was flying alone during the incident only suffered minor injuries and received medical attention. The aircraft is based in Cape Town to assist with aerial law enforcement and conservation management operations in the Table Mountain National Park and surrounding areas.
“The South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the relevant law enforcement authorities have been notified of the accident and a full investigation into the cause of the accident will be launched,” said SANParks.
On December 24, SANparks proudly announced that a green and yellow SANParks helicopter will patrol the Park, including Rhodes Memorial, Hout Bay and Tokai. This forms part of an attempt to address crime and security issues within Table Mountain National Park.
This comes after years of residents calling for better security measures. Many hikers have endured heinous acts at the hands of ruthless criminals in the Park.
