AFB Hawk down

Date: 04 April 2014 By: Isabel Venter

The Air Force Base (AFB) Makhado confirmed this week that a trainer jet had to be docked due to a minor accident.

Officer commanding of the AFB Makhado Brig-Genl Schalk van Heerden confirmed on Wednesday  that a BAE Systems Hawk 120 trainer jet was on its final approach to land at AFB Makhado when the accident occurred last Tuesday, 25 March.

DefenceWeb, a South African defence and security news portal, quoted an unidentified source as saying that the Hawk was trim-jammed in a downwards position right before touching down. As a result, the Hawk bounced back into the air, which caused a portion of the landing gear to break off.

Van Heerden added that a Board of Inquiry had yet to confirm a possible technical failure as the possible cause of the accident. He also said that there were no injuries to the flight crew. According to him limited damage was caused to the nose wheel of the Hawk.

The Hawk trainer jets fall under the control of 85 Combat Flying School based at AFB Makhado. The school received 24 lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) Hawks during 1999 as part of a strategic defence package.

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Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

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