A veteran pilot is missing after losing control of his plane and crashing into the sea in front of horrified spectators during a final display at an air show.
Footage filmed by a witness from a nearby beach in Durban, South Africa, captured the moment the ZS-AEC Extra 300 aircraft plummeted out of the sky on August 14.
The clip shows the aircraft climbing and then banking before plunging into the waves just metres from the shore during an airshow linked to the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit 2025.
South African Airlines pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray, 61, from Johannesburg, who had been participating in the airshow, was performing his final display when the crash occurred.
Rescue teams were immediately alerted by beachgoers who saw the plane fall from the sky and into the water below.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) duty coxswain Lorenzo Taverna-Tunisan confirmed that teams are searching for the wreckage. Municipal lifeguards have also deployed resources to extend the search beyond the breakers.
‘The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 is assisting in ongoing operations and providing a platform for Police and Metro Police divers to conduct scuba searches,’ Taverna-Tunisan said.
Parts of the wreckage have since been recovered, but the body of the veteran aerobatic pilot has not yet been found.
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South African Airlines pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray, 61, from Johannesburg, who had been participating in the airshow, was performing his final display when the crash occurred
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Footage filmed by a witness from a nearby beach in Durban, South Africa, captured the moment the ZS-AEC Extra 300 aircraft plummeted out of the sky on August 14
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The clip shows the aircraft climbing and then banking before plunging into the waves just metres from the shore during an airshow linked to the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit 2025
Authorities have confirmed that the search is now a recovery mission rather than a rescue, and it is widely believed that Blackwood-Murray did not survive the crash.
Officials have temporarily closed Battery Beach to the public, urging residents and visitors to avoid the area while recovery operations remain underway.
Authorities are, however, appealing to the public and the maritime community to report any findings of debris that may be related to the light aircraft accident along the Durban shoreline or at sea.
Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson Sisa Majola confirmed that the crash happened during the aircraft’s final display at the beachfront airshow shortly before 2pm.
Tributes have poured in for Blackwood-Murray, described as a world-class pilot and a true gentleman within the aviation community.
His wife Kyla paid an emotional tribute on Facebook, writing: ‘It was the call I have been dreading my whole life.
‘But I always said I would rather he go doing the things he loves the most. I just didn’t realise he would have left so soon.
‘He was my world. We did everything together and we had so many plans. We were going to grow old and be the most awesome geriatrics together.
‘He has taken away the biggest piece of my soul and I don’t know how I am going to live without my wingman.
‘He brought me more joy than I ever imagined possible. He was always there for me helping me become the best version of myself. I am beyond heartbroken.’
South African aviation platform, Smoke on Go, said: ‘It is with deep sorrow that we bid farewell to a remarkable aviator, Andrew Blackwood-Murray, whose passion for flight and dedication to the aviation community inspired all who knew him..
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Parts of the wreckage have since been recovered, but the body of the veteran aerobatic pilot has not yet been found
Andrew’s love for the skies was more than a profession, it was a calling. His skill at the controls, his unwavering professionalism and his ability to share the joy of aviation with others made him not just a pilot but an ambassador for the wonder of flight.
‘Those who saw him perform will never forget the precision, grace and energy he brought to every display.
‘Beyond the cockpit, Andrew was a friend, mentor and gentleman.
‘His humility matched his talent and his warmth extended to everyone he met – whether on the flight line, in a hangar or among the crowd after a show.
‘He embodied the spirit of camaraderie that binds aviators together.
‘Andrew left us while doing what he loved most – flying.
‘Though his passing leaves a void that can never be filled, his legacy will endure in every takeoff, every display and every young dreamer inspired to look skyward.
‘Our deepest condolences go to his wife Kyla and to the rest of his family and friends during this difficult time.
‘May you find comfort in the love, respect and admiration Andrew inspired in so many.
‘Blue skies and tailwinds Andrew. May you rest in peace and may your spirit forever soar’.
The search for the pilot is ongoing.
