No drugs in Moz landing drama
Erika Gibson, Beeld
Pretoria - A South African pilot and his passenger recently had to land on a tarred road in Mozambique to avoid crashing into the sea when their plane broke down because of an oil-pressure problem.
They were arrested and had to explain the reason for their illegal landing on the road to a judge in a court in Inhassoro before they were acquitted.
Aircraft salesman Etienne Oosthuizen of Nelspruit denied rumours on Monday that they were involved in smuggling drugs or other illegal products.
Foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said the South African embassy in Maputo reported the incident to the department only on Friday, presumably after a version had appeared in the local press.
In the latest rumours, the two were called Benjamin Thuiso and Gerard van Aarde.
Oosthuizen's second name is Benjamin and his passenger was Jason van Aarde.
Flight and route cleared
Oosthuizen's landed his single-engined Kitfox on the tarred road between Vilanculos and Inhassoro, north of Maputo, about three weeks ago.
He said: "We were en route to the islands near Vilanculos. Our flight plan and route had been handed in and cleared, and the customs officers at Vilanculos had cleared us.
"Just before we were to have crossed the sea to the islands, the plane lost oil pressure.
"I landed on the road and later found the problem was a loose cable.
"But, the police arrived and took us to the police station.
"We stayed overnight in the house of the friendly police chief whose wife made food for us.
"We had to go to court because the case had been logged.
"The judge listened to us and acquitted us.
"I haven't the foggiest idea where the rumours about drugs have come from now?"
Mamoepa said the embassy staff in Maputo were finding out the facts and his department would comment later.
News source: www.news24.co.za
Posted by: www.SouthAfrica-CarHire.com
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