On Sunday afternoon, a private light aircraft, identified as V5-UTD, crashed at the Okahao airfield located in the Omusati region of Namibia. The incident occurred around 12:40 PM while the aircraft was conducting a runway inspection flight, having departed from Andimba Toivo ya Toivo Airport at Ondangwa. As the aircraft flew at a low altitude, a technical malfunction led to the crash, as reported by Omusati police commander commissioner Ismael Basson.

The pilot of the aircraft, identified as Andrias Voigt, a 63-year-old German national with permanent residency in Namibia, managed to escape with minor injuries. He is known to be an orthopaedic surgeon at Oshakati. Unfortunately, his wife, Andria Nicollette, 62, who was a passenger on the flight, sustained serious injuries and was immediately transported to Oshakati Intermediate Hospital for medical attention. The incident underscores the potential dangers involved in aviation, particularly concerning private flights with limited oversight.

In the wake of the crash, local authorities have begun an investigation to determine the cause of the technical defect that led to the incident. This investigation will likely include examining the maintenance records of the aircraft and interviewing the pilot. As the aviation industry in Namibia continues to grow, ensuring the safety of private flights remains a crucial concern for regulators and operators alike, as they seek to prevent similar incidents in the future.