TV chef, pilot, and author Mynie Steffens, 43, was killed in a helicopter crash above a farm in South Africa’s Eastern Cape on Monday, November 10.
Steffens was piloting a helicopter around 8 a.m. while spraying pesticides over a citrus farm when the aircraft struck power lines and crashed, according to the George Herald. The Accidents and Incidents Investigations Division confirmed that the helicopter was “substantially damaged due to impact force,” and photos posted by South Africa’s Exec Ops showed the wreckage scattered across the farm.
Steffens co-hosted the popular cooking show Speel met Vuur (“Playing With Fire”) on the VIA channel alongside her high school friend Aldi van der Walt. She was also the author of Mynie Plays With Fire, published by Penguin Books South Africa in 2021, featuring recipes for traditional South African braai, or open-flame barbecue. She frequently shared videos of her helicopter flights on social media.
Van der Walt described Steffens as “having a big heart, a gentle soul, and the glue that kept people together,” adding, “She lived life to the full and could make time for people from every walk of life.” VIA TV also paid tribute to the late chef, calling her adventurous and praising her curiosity and bravery.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy,” the authorities said in a statement.
