Top SA cyclists die in plane crash

Two of South Africa's most promising young cyclists were among the five people who died in a plane crash in the Free State on Tuesday, January 18. Jaco Odendaal and Jaco De Witt, as well as three other persons were on board an Aerostar light aircraft which left Wonderboom aerodrome at about 16:30 on Tuesday. It was due to have landed at Harrismith at 17:30.

When they did not land as expected, a search was launched which continued through the night. The wreckage was found just outside Cornelia at noon on Wednesday. The cause of the crash is believed to be bad weather conditions as the plane was about to land, then diverted onto a field and burned out.

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