A helicopter that went missing during an anti-poaching operation in the Kruger National Park on Monday, 04/06/2026 has been located and all four people on board are safe, SANParks confirmed Tuesday.

The contracted aircraft had been deployed to assist a crime-scene investigation after rhino carcasses were discovered. Onboard were a private pilot, two South African Police Service (SAPS) forensic investigators and a SANParks Environmental Crime Investigator. The team landed in dense bush to conduct on-the-ground assessments but became disoriented in thick vegetation and lost sight of the helicopter. Their GPS ran out of battery, and attempts to contact them were unsuccessful.

Search efforts continued overnight and resumed at first light. SANParks and SAPS deployed aerial and ground teams, including a SANParks helicopter and drones equipped for low-visibility operations. The crew spent the night in the bush and were located on the morning of 04/07/2026 after being spotted by the search helicopter; they waved for assistance and were brought to safety. SANParks confirmed all four are healthy and unharmed.

Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, praised the commitment of the officers involved, noting they were working on a national holiday. “We are committed to leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to locate the missing members,” he said, adding that expanded resources, including additional helicopters and personnel, were deployed as part of the search.

Investigations into the rhino carcasses and the circumstances that led to the team becoming disoriented continue. Authorities have highlighted the role of challenging terrain, poor signal, and a depleted GPS battery in complicating the crew’s ability to relocate their aircraft.