A helicopter carrying Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, his wife Lulu, and four others crashed on September 30, 2026, resulting in the deaths of all on board. The aircraft was flying back from a rural home where Chivayo and his wife had been inspecting ongoing construction. According to a security aide who was traveling in a separate helicopter, the pilot of Chivayo's aircraft made desperate radio calls as he appeared to have lost his bearings due to poor weather conditions.
The pilot's last confirmed position was over Surrey, and he repeatedly expressed his confusion over the radio, stating that he had not exited the cloud. The security aide recounted that the pilot's transmission grew more unsettling with every exchange, and at one point, he asked, "Which destination?" when informed that they were headed to Marondera. The aide's account provides a chilling insight into the final minutes before the crash.
The helicopter had initially been rerouted to Bromley due to challenging weather conditions, but this change in course did not alleviate the pilot's difficulties. The security aide, who was in a separate helicopter, reported that his own pilot radioed in, stating they were just ten minutes from their destination, but the response from the other helicopter raised immediate alarm.
After the exchange, all communication with the other helicopter was lost, and no further transmissions were received. The silence was sudden and complete, leaving those tracking the aircraft's progress with no way of knowing what had happened in the clouds above. The cause of the crash is still being investigated, but the account from Chivayo's security detail stands as one of the clearest windows into those final, fraught minutes.
Wicknell Chivayo was the founder of Intratrek Zimbabwe, a company that secured major government energy contracts, including the controversial Gwanda Solar Project. The Zimbabwean businessman was traveling with his wife Lulu and four others, including the pilot, when the helicopter crashed. The incident has sparked an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Earlier reports had placed the number of fatalities at six, but the security aide has since confirmed that only five people died in the crash. The identities of the victims, apart from Chivayo and his wife, have not been publicly disclosed. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the official cause of the incident.
The crash has sparked widespread shock and grief, particularly in Zimbabwe, where Chivayo was a well-known figure. As the investigation continues, the account from Chivayo's security detail provides a poignant reminder of the risks and uncertainties of air travel, particularly in challenging weather conditions.
Key points
- Wicknell Chivayo, a Zimbabwean businessman, died in a helicopter crash on September 30, 2026, along with four others.
- The pilot's final radio transmissions revealed growing confusion and disorientation due to poor weather conditions.
- The cause of the crash is still being investigated, but the incident has sparked widespread shock and grief in Zimbabwe.
