On 19 July 2025, a South African Air Force BK117 helicopter was activated by Air Force Command Post to execute a life-saving rescue mission in the Baziya area, approximately 15 nautical miles west of Mthatha Airfield. The mission was initiated to extract two males who had fallen down a mountain while searching for their livestock. The individuals had been stranded on the mountainside since the previous afternoon, exposed to the elements overnight and suffering from dehydration.
The BK117, assigned to standby duties for Project Owethu in the Mthatha area, was crewed by Major Corrie Oberholzer as the Commander, Major Achmat Salim Mtshali as the Co-pilot, and Flight Sergeant Letladi Mahlakwana as the Flight Engineer. The aircraft departed 14 SAI at 12:05B, routing directly to the scene.
Upon arrival, the crew conducted a brief search in extremely windy and turbulent conditions before locating the rescue team. After landing at a suitable location, the helicopter crew coordinated with the rescue team via telephone to establish a safe extraction plan. The stranded individuals were secured on a rock ledge on the downdraft side of the mountain at an altitude of approximately 5,700 feet, with wind speeds recorded at around 28 knots. The SAPS K9 Rescue Unit, led by Sergeant Katikati, had secured the patients while awaiting extraction.
Due to severe downdrafts and insufficient power to hover out of ground effect, the initial extraction plan had to be revised. The crew executed a limited power hover with restricted tail rotor and cyclic control effectiveness, allowing the rescuer and the first patient to be safely hoisted from the ledge. The helicopter transported them to the top of the mountain, where a Police and Medical Services helicopter was waiting to transfer them to hospital care.
The BK117 then returned to the cliffside and successfully hoisted the second patient, delivering him to the same handover point. The aircraft returned to base at 14 SAI, landing safely at 13:31B after completing the mission. The total flying time for the operation was 1.0 hour.
Ground crew support for the mission included Warrant Officer Class 2 M.H. Mbali, Sergeant B.D. Sileku, and Sergeant S. Ramlingam. Their dedicated efforts, alongside the aircrew, ensured the safe recovery of the stranded individuals under extremely challenging conditions.
