Deceased in Swakopmund helicopter crash identified

The Namibian Police Force in the Erongo Region, have released the names of the two men who died in a helicopter crash at Swakopmund on Monday afternoon.

The deceased have been identified as 54-year-old Jacques Jacobs, who was the Chief Pilot and Pilot Instructor from the Swakopmund Flying School and 29-year-old Dirk von Weidts from the Namibian Base Aviation Company in Swakopmund.

According to Erongo Community Policing Commander Inspector Ileni Shapumba in an update report issued on Tuesday, the accident scene was attended and possible observations and investigations were done by the detectives including aviators from the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Shapumba said the two died while they were test flying the helicopter, after fixing it.

‘The helicopter fell out of the air and crashed east of the Swakopmund airfield after the pilot lost control of the aircraft,’ Shapumba noted.

The bodies were taken to Walvis Bay Police Mortuary where autopsies will be conducted.

Both deceased persons’ next of kin were traced and informed.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency