A Bloemfontein pilot who was paralysed by an aneurysm in flight but still managed to land his plane safely, has been hailed as a hero by his peers.
Danie Minnie, 43, suffered a brain haemorrhage while flying from Bloemfontein to Joburg on Sunday.
Minnie was waiting to land a Cessna Citation Mustang - a private jet - at Joburg’s Rand Airport when he started to vomit and decided to return to Bloemfontein.
He was able to perform a perfect landing in Bloemfontein, despite being paralysed down his left side.
It is understood he stayed in contact with his wife and air traffic controllers.
Emergency officials spent 40 minutes freeing him from his plane. There were no passengers.
Minnie’s brother, also a pilot, and his wife, were at the airport to meet him when he landed.
He was declared brain dead on Tuesday after two days in the Rosepark Hospital in Bloemfontein.
Yesterday his friends and family gathered at the Avbob chapel in Bloemfontein to say their final goodbyes.
Tributes have been pouring in all week, with aviation forums abuzz with messages.
Fellow pilot Joggie Prinsloo from the Free State described Minnie as one of SA’s most experienced pilots and a great friend.
“We are all poorer for his passing, even though we may wonder at his amazing depth of character, determination and resolution,” said blogger Jaydee on aviation website Avcom
Another blogger, Leebrand, described Minnie as an extraordinary guy.
On blogging website flyafrica.com, which Minnie also used, Horace Blok said: “To all close to Danie - let it be known he performed an extraordinary feat and will surely be remembered for it.”
Bingo, a close friend of Minnie’s, described him as “one of the most gifted pilots” he had ever known.
Another blogger, Tango 31, said although she did not know Minnie, she had been moved by his heroics.
“I did not know Danie at all, but a combination of the tributes… and the way he stuck to his task of bringing the aircraft safely back to ground, point to him having been a very fine individual and exceptional pilot.”
Guy Leitch, editor of popular aviation magazine SA Flyer, told the Saturday Star yesterday he was baffled by Minnie’s decision not to land in Joburg to get immediate medical attention.
“I can’t imagine why he did not complete his landing at Rand airport.
“It seems a strange decision… I can only assume that the aneurysm developed slowly, but cannot guess at how gradually he became incapacitated.” - Saturday Star