Pilot, 2 passengers dead in South Africa plane crash

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - The bodies of a pilot and two passengers were recovered after an aircraft crashed in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, authorities confirmed on Monday.

The light aircraft went missing on Sunday after taking off from Durban's Virginia airport at around 3 pm local time (1300GMT).

In a statement Monday, the South African Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC), which was conducting a rescue operation after the aircraft went missing, said its wreckage was discovered shortly before midday in the primary search area west of Greytown.

The three people on board were killed, the center said.