Missing Kruger Helicopter Crew Found Safe

A helicopter that went missing during an investigation inside the Kruger National Park has been located, with all four occupants found alive and unharmed after spending the night in the bush.

The helicopter disappeared on Monday, 06 April 2026, while a team was conducting an investigation following reports of a carcass discovered in the park.

The aircraft had a pilot, two SAPS investigators and an environmental crime investigator on board. The team reportedly departed at around 09:00 but failed to return as expected.

Attempts to communicate with the crew were unsuccessful, possibly due to a poor signal and the helicopter flying at a low altitude. When contact could not be established by evening, authorities launched an urgent search operation.

Search teams deployed another helicopter equipped with night vision capabilities and drones to locate the missing aircraft. However, poor weather conditions forced the helicopter to withdraw, while drones continued searching throughout the night.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Zeph Mkhwanazi, praised the members involved in the operation and expressed hope for their safe return.

“We are committed to leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to locate the missing members. We will continue to search tirelessly until we find our colleagues,” he said earlier on Tuesday.

Later on Tuesday morning, the helicopter and its occupants were successfully located. Authorities confirmed that the crew had safely landed in a remote area on Monday but became disoriented while moving through thick bush and could not find their way back to the aircraft.

After spending the night in the bush, the group was spotted by a search team using a helicopter from South African National Parks (SANParks). The crew waved for assistance and were subsequently rescued.

Officials confirmed that all four occupants are safe and in good condition.