From: Yakubu Muhammad Rigasa
Nelson Mandela
The aircraft went missing on Wednesday.
The wreckage of a missing military aircraft believed to be carrying 11 members of the Nelson Mandela medical team has been found in the Drakensberg mountain range, an official said.
The South African National Defence Force on Thursday said that It appears there were no survivors.
The aircraft went missing en route to Mthatha – near Mandela's hometown in Qunu – on Wednesday after experiencing severe weather.
An Air Force statement said the Dakota was flying from Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria when it encountered severe weather.
"Unconfirmed reports said the aircraft last communicated with Air Traffic Control when above Giants Castle in the Drakensberg, saying they were at 11,000 feet and flying in Instrument Meteorological Conditions due to the bad visibility.
"The aircraft never arrived at Mthatha Airport,'' the statement said.
The modified World War 2 Dakota took off from Waterkloof air force base in Pretoria at about 8 a.m. local time and was scheduled to land in Mthatha two hours later.
The route is used weekly by the medical team which looks after 94-year-old Mandela, who now lives in his birthplace in Qunu.
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