A helicopter carrying Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke, and four other people crashed in Marondera, Zimbabwe, on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of all six people on board. The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe reported that preliminary findings show a fuel spill occurred on impact, followed by a fire that burnt the grass at the crash site. Authorities were alerted after police received reports of the crash, prompting emergency teams to respond to the scene.
The helicopter, which had two pilots and four passengers, crashed at about 1700 local time in a rural area of Marondera, east of Harare. The identities of all those who died had not been formally confirmed as of Thursday, with forensic experts still working to identify the bodies. Family spokesperson Herbert Chivayo said the impact had made the identification process difficult as forensic experts continued examining the remains of the victims.
The authority's Director General, George Mashababe, said investigators had not established what caused the helicopter to go down as they continued examining the crash site. "Preliminary findings show that fuel spilled on impact, followed by a fire that burnt the grass at the crash site," Mashababe said on Thursday. The authorities have yet to determine what caused the helicopter to crash, and investigators are continuing to examine the wreckage and other evidence at the site.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, who visited the crash site, said he was "still in shock" following Chivayo's death. Chivayo was a prominent Zimbabwean businessman, and news of his death has attracted widespread attention in the country. The government has expressed condolences to Chivayo's family, with President Ruto mourning him as a "dear friend".
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana had earlier confirmed that nobody survived the crash, while saying authorities would establish the identities of those who died. "Current information indicates that there were no survivors in this crash. The Zimbabwe Republic Police will confirm the names of the victims in due course," Mangwana said in a statement issued on September 30.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe is working to establish the cause of the crash, with investigators examining the wreckage and other evidence at the site. The authority's Director General, George Mashababe, said they would continue to investigate the crash site to determine what happened before the aircraft went down. Police are expected to formally release the identities of all the victims after the forensic identification process is completed.
The crash has raised concerns about aviation safety in Zimbabwe, with authorities working to ensure that all necessary measures are in place to prevent such incidents in the future. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and authorities are working to provide support to the families of the victims.
Key points
- The helicopter crash resulted in the deaths of all six people on board, including Wicknell Chivayo and his wife.
- Preliminary findings show that a fuel spill occurred on impact, followed by a fire that burnt the grass at the crash site.
- The cause of the helicopter crash has not been established, with investigators continuing to examine the wreckage and other evidence at the site.
