A state of emergency was declared in Alberton, Gauteng, South Africa, on Sunday afternoon after a locally manufactured Rainbow Cheetah light aircraft crashed into a school building. Fire, medical, and security teams were quickly dispatched to the scene.
In an official statement by the Gauteng Province Joint Operations Centre (JOC), it was said: “An aircraft has crashed into a school building on Du Preez Street in the Florentia area. All teams are on site, and the situation is under control. The public is requested to stay away from the area and keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles.”
Following the incident, the school premises were closed off for safety reasons, and access to the area was restricted to residents.
CASUALTIES AND CAUSE STILL UNKNOWN
Authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding any casualties or injuries. The cause of the crash also remains unknown at this stage. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a brief plume of smoke after the crash but said the fire was quickly brought under control.
INVESTIGATION TO BE LAUNCHED
Once emergency operations are completed, aviation safety units will launch a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Officials stated that investigations are ongoing to determine whether the crash was caused by a technical malfunction or pilot error.
The incident has been recorded as one of the rare civil aviation accidents to occur in South Africa in recent years. Further details about the crash will be shared with the public by official authorities.
