GWERU – A promising young pilot with the Air Force of Zimbabwe died on Thursday when his jet trainer aircraft crashed near Guinea Fowl in Gweru during a solo consolidation general handling navigation training exercise.
Air Lieutenant Nesbert Tambudza was piloting the Chinese made Karakorum-8 (K-8) jet trainer aircraft before the tragic accident.
According to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), the crash occurred about 5 kilometers east of Guinea Fowl, and the aircraft was extensively damaged upon impact with the ground.
Fortunately, there were no civilian casualties or damage to property reported.
The Commander of the ZDF, General Philip Sibanda, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, stating that the news of Tambudza’s death had been received with heavy hearts.
Sibanda extended heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives, friends, and colleagues of the deceased pilot, describing him as a talented and promising young officer who had demonstrated immense potential.
Tambudza was undergoing a jet flying conversion training course at Number 2 Squadron, Josiah Tungamirai Air Force Base in Gweru and was in the final phases of training on the K-8 jet.
The Air Force of Zimbabwe has constituted a Board of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident. Arrangements for the funeral parade and burial of Air Lieutenant Tambudza will be announced in due course.
This is not the first time a military helicopter has crashed in Zimbabwe. In September last year, Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopter, which was due to fly President Emmerson Mnangagwa from Bikita to Harare, crashed during take-off at Masvingo Airport.
