The South African skies have been awash with tragedy so far in 2025. And regulators want to get to the bottom of a seemingly never-ending string of crashes. Just yesterday (Monday 27 October 2025), a plane crashed into a school in Alberton. And one day prior, three people – including a pilot – were killed when an Alouette helicopter crashed at Danielskuil, Northern Cape, on Sunday 26 October 2025.
However, back in June, perhaps the most devastating incident occurred. Three student pilots – Nqobile Biyela, Lulama Msane and Siphesihle Buthelezi – died after their aircraft crashed near Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal. Their Piper Cherokee disappeared in severe weather, with wreckage discovered the following day.
DEADLY SOUTH AFRICAN SKIES
Also, in June 2025, a Cessna 210 crashed near Lanseria, killing the pilot and seriously injuring the passenger shortly after takeoff. And who can forget when an aerobatics aircraft tragically plunged into the ocean during an airshow near Suncoast Beach, Durban, back in August 2025? Several days of search and rescue eventually recovered the pilot’s body, that of experienced pilot Andrew Blackwood (61).
Further highlighting our deadly South African skies, two more light aircraft went missing over KwaZulu-Natal in mid-October. Both pilots were found dead. The recurring nature of these accidents has been noted by the South African Civil Aviation Authority. Specifically, that incidents are occurring shortly after takeoff and in privately operated aircraft.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
At the same time, Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS) has delivered startling insight into safety in the South African skies. It suggests that a lessening number of trained air traffic controllers has become a major safety concern, reports TopAuto. Zola Majavu, chairman of the ATNS, said in the organisation’s annual report that as many as 50 air-traffic controllers (ATCs) left the country in the last year.
ATNS manages all the airspace over Southern Africa and 6% of the rest of the world. And well-trained South African ATCs are regularly poached by the United Arab Emirates and Australia. As such, ATNS notes that the “loss of skilled personnel has surpassed its ability to train replacements.”
HOW TO MAKE SOUTH AFRICAN SKIES SAFE
Aviation experts have long warned that a lack of ATCs would create problems for safety in the South African skies. Fewer controllers means higher workloads and more mistakes per shift. Moreover, Majavu says the reduced manpower has also led to several shortcuts in instrument safety procedures.
At least 326 of these safety procedures were suspended at one point or another during 2025. And the issue is particularly pervasive at smaller airports. “It is both a challenge and a strategic priority requiring immediate attention and sustained intervention,” Majavu concluded.
Could this be the smoking gun, the systemic issue behind the deadly South African skies of 2025? Understandably, authorities continue to push for strict adherence to pre-flight safety protocols and regular maintenance. And improved weather-related decision-making protocols to stem the unnecessary loss of life over South African skies.
What do you think? Is the South African sky becoming an unsafe space? And is there anything that regulators can do about it? Share your thoughts in the comments section below …
