Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has assured all travellers that South Africa is still one of the safest countries in the world in which to travel by air.
The Minister's assurance follows a South African Airlink plane which went off the end of the runway at George Airport earlier today, Monday, 7 December and came to rest on a perimeter road leading to the N2 highway.
"We want to assure all those who make use or intend making use of air travel in South Africa that our planes and airport infrastructure are safe. There have been two isolated incidents of runway excursions in the past weeks, but there is nothing to panic about. South Africa has one of the best air safety records in the world," the Minister said.
Runway excursions are a worldwide problem and are being aggressively addressed by both aviation authorities and air safety bodies. According to reports, the 37-seater aircraft was arriving from Cape Town when it aquaplaned off the end of the wet runway. It penetrated the airport perimeter fence and came to a halt at a road between the airport and the N2 freeway. It didn't affect traffic on the freeway and 33 people were evacuated from the aeroplane, five of them with minor injuries. Weather at the time is reported as being overcast with rain.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050
Issued by: Department of Transport
7 December 2009
