A legendary pilot who featured in Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Museum Air Show Festival on Saturday, May 28, at Uhuru Gardens along Lang'ata Road has crashed at an airport in Zimbabwe.
According to preliminary reports from Zimbabwe, one of the pilots drawn from the four-plane aerobatics team led by Mark Hensman from Cape Town crashed at Harare's Charles Prince Airport on Tuesday evening, May 31.
The pilot died in the crash with further reports indicating that the plane crashed while he was pulling stunts on a solo display at an airshow.
Witnesses who were watching the airshow captured the plane spinning several times before veering out of control as the pilot levelled up and made attempts to climb.
The plane crashed nose first in front of the horrified aviation enthusiasts who initially assumed it was all part of the show.
Responding to the crash, Zimbabwe Aviation Authority noted that it is investigating to find out what really transpired.
The type of aircraft involved in the incident could not be immediately established.
Charles Prince is a small private airfield 16km northwest of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
The pilot was listed by KDF in the official programme alongside Phoenix Aviation Cessna Sovereign, Kenya Airways Embraer 190 fly-past, and Farmland Aviation.
The Air Show displayed both military and civilian aerobatic capabilities entertaining the public who thronged Uhuru Gardens.
The show was attended by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
