Retired War Hero Pilot Dies As Air Force of Zimbabwe Jet Crashes In Gweru

Senior Air Force of Zimbabwe pilot killed as jet crashes in Gweru

A retired Air Force of Zimbabwe pilot died on Friday after his Chengdu J-7/F-7 jet crashed in the Wazheri area of Gweru. Retired Squadron Leader Ritswanetsi Vuyo Ncube, a veteran and hero of the DRC war, had rejoined the military to help train new pilots. He reportedly shouted “fire” and “aircraft uncontrollable” before going down.

Routine flight ends in tragedy

The jet took off from Josiah Tungamirai Air Force Base, formerly Thornhill, on a routine sortie. But the flight ended in disaster moments later.

Eyewitnesses said they saw thick smoke rising from the trees and rushed to the crash site.

“We saw smoke in the bush and we ran to see what had happened,” said one local resident. “There was wreckage everywhere. At first, no one could find the pilot.”

According to reports, Ncube’s body was not inside the fuselage, which briefly raised hopes that he had managed to eject safely.

However, those hopes were dashed when his remains were discovered not far from the aircraft wreckage.

An Air Force source told ZimLive:

“In his final radio transmission, he said ‘fire’ and ‘aircraft uncontrollable.’ Then communication was lost.”

Military mourns seasoned pilot

Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Phillip Valerio Sibanda, confirmed the incident in a statement. He said the entire defence establishment was mourning.

“We received the news of the death of Squadron Leader Ncube with heavy hearts,” said General Sibanda.

“Right now our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased pilot.”

Ncube, who had also served with the South African Air Force as an instructor from 2006 to 2009, had recently returned to assist in pilot training in Zimbabwe.

The aircraft, a Chinese-built supersonic interceptor known as the Chengdu J-7 or F-7, is one of 12 delivered to Zimbabwe in the mid-1980s.