Getting to OR Tambo International Airport can be a hassle sometimes, especially at peak hours with the traffic and all that.
One traveller found a “solution” – call up a pilot friend with a light aircraft and simply fly there without filing a flight plan.
According to Dale de Klerk, this is exactly what happened on Tuesday this week.
De Klerk, who owns Alpi Aviation SA, posted a video of the light aircraft making the unscheduled landing in a Facebook group called FlyAfrica yesterday.
He captioned it:
This happened at OR Tambo yesterday. A RV-10 light aircraft entered the airspace at OR Tambo without having filed a flight plan and proceeded to land on the taxiway adjacent to the runway closest to the terminal building, while other aircraft were queuing up to take off.
According to an ATC controller, the pilot of the RV-10 said he was dropping off a friend who needed to catch a connecting flight. As you do.
Danie de Klerk
Watch the video below:
Investigation underway
According to News24, an investigation into the circumstances of the landing is underway.
Percy Morokane, a spokesperson for the Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS) at OR Tambo, said ATNS views the incident “in a serious light.”
Morokane emphasised that OR Tambo remains committed to public safety.
The identities of the pilot and traveller have not been revealed.
Pilot slammed
Facebook users slammed the pilot for being “irresponsible.”
Sias Möller wrote, “He’s lucky the jet blast from the waiting aircraft didn’t catapult him. This cowboy should get a stern warning or this stunt may cost him his license.”
Robbie Burt added, “Unreal. Was he allowed to depart again, or did they put the RV in the Venter trailer and tow it away as evidence?”