Durban International Airport - Accidents and Incidents

Accidents and Incidents

• On 30 June 1962, a Douglas DC-4 (registration ZS-BMH) operating a scheduled South African Airways flight from Johannesburg to Durban collided with a South African Air Force Harvard trainer. The DC-4 made a successful emergency landing with 46 passengers and 5 crew; the Harvard trainer crashed with its crew of two parachuting to safety. The DC-4 was subsequently repaired.
• On 28 December 1973, a Douglas DC-3 (registration ZS-DAK) operated by Executive Funds lost both engines when turning onto final approach and ditched in the Indian Ocean. One passenger drowned out of the 22 passengers and 3 crew.
• On 18 June 2008, a British Airways Boeing 737-400 (operated by Comair), operating as Flight 6203 from Johannesburg, skidded off the runway at Durban International Airport while landing under adverse weather conditions. The aircraft was reported to have hit a wet patch on the tarmac, causing it to skid and resulting in the right landing-gear becoming embedded in the surrounding earth. The incident caused the closure of the airport for both arrivals and departures for several hours. All 87 passengers and six crew members escaped without serious injury.
• On 24 September 2009, Airlink Flight 8911 crashed in the suburb of Merebank shortly after takeoff from Durban International Airport, injuring its crew of three and one person on the ground.
• On 19 December 2009 an Emirates Airlines Airbus A330-200, flight EK-775 from Dubai to Durban with 220 passengers, was en route at around 13:30Z about 2 hours prior to estimated landing in Durban, when the airplane encountered severe turbulence. A doctor on board provided first aid to the injured on board. The airplane continued to Durban for a safe landing. Eight passengers were taken to a local hospital, while 12 more were treated at the airport for minor injuries; all other passengers were offered trauma counseling. Passengers reported that trolleys, bags, passengers and flight attendants were flying through the cabin, hitting the ceiling and overhead lockers. Interior plastic covering panels were broken, wires were hanging down from the ceiling, while seats and armrests were broken. The initial upset, during which the airplane seemed to plunge, lasted for about 10 seconds; the turbulence continued for a couple of minutes. The hospital reported three people received spinal injuries, one received a broken hand, and the other 4 received minor injuries.