A Portnet helicopter crashed at the entrance to the Richards Bay
harbour in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Captain Tienkie van Vuuren said two people in the
helicopter were rescued and one person was still missing.
"It appears as if the helicopter's blade touched a ship causing it to crash
at about 11:45," Van Vuuren said.
No further details were immediately available.
Sad Link
Pilot\'s "ok" (From IOL)
Two police helicopters from Durban and police divers have been called in to search for a man who went missing after a Portnet helicopter crashed into the sea at the entrance to the Richards Bay Harbour on Saturday morning.
Police Captain Rene van der Westhuizen said
the two pilots who were in the helicopter were rescued and taken to hospital with suspected spinal injuries and fractures.
"One other person who was in the helicopter is still missing. And its suspected that he went down with the aircraft.
"We can\'t see the helicopter it sunk and the water is about 20 to 30 feet deep," said Van der Westhuizen.
She said it appeared as if the accident occurred when the helicopter tried to drop or pick up one of the pilots from a ship and its
propeller 
touched the vessel causing it to crash at about 11.45am.
Van der Westhuizen said the fire department as well as the private company who had rescued the two pilots were also assisting in the search.
The names of those who were involved in the helicopter crash had not yet been released. - Sapa
Sad Link