Zimbabwe Govt Reveals What Happened Moments After Chivayo’s Helicopter Crash
Preliminary findings indicate that fuel spilled from the aircraft when it struck the ground before a fire broke out and spread to the surrounding grass.
The incident triggered an emergency response as authorities moved to secure the scene and begin investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.
Zimbabwe Civil Aviation Authority Director General George Mashababe confirmed that the fire followed the fuel spill on impact.
“Preliminary findings show that fuel spilt on impact, followed by a fire that burnt the grass at the crash site,” Mashababe said on Thursday, October 1.
He, however, cautioned that investigators had not established what caused the helicopter to crash.
Six people killed in Zimbabwe helicopter crash
Those killed included Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke, her personal aide and two pilots.
The group had reportedly travelled from Gandami in Chikomba, where the couple was constructing their rural home.
The helicopter crashed approximately 40 minutes after taking off, cutting short their journey.
The accident has drawn attention in Zimbabwe and beyond because of Chivayo’s business profile and his connections with prominent figures in the region.
Investigators recover helicopter black box
Transport Minister Felix Mhona visited the crash site as investigators began examining the wreckage and collecting evidence.
During the initial assessment, investigators recovered the helicopter’s black box, which is expected to assist in reconstructing the aircraft’s final moments.
The flight recorder could provide information about the helicopter’s operations before the crash, including technical data that may help investigators understand the sequence of events.
However, authorities have not released any findings from the recovered device.
Investigators are expected to analyse the available evidence before making further conclusions about the circumstances that led to the crash.
Ruto mourns Chivayo and other victims
Chivayo’s death also attracted attention in Kenya because of his publicly known friendship with President William Ruto.
Ruto described the deaths as a painful loss to the families, friends and people who knew the victims.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of my friend, Wicknell Chivayo, together with his wife, Lucy Muteke, and the other lives lost in the helicopter crash in Zimbabwe,” Ruto said.
The president extended his sympathies to the affected families as news of the tragedy spread across the region.
Who was Wicknell Chivayo?
Chivayo was the managing director of Intratrek Zimbabwe, a company associated with energy and infrastructure projects.
He was also a prominent public figure known for his philanthropy, high-profile government contracts and displays of wealth on social media.
His business activities and public profile made him a widely recognised figure in Zimbabwe.
For now, officials have confirmed that the aircraft caught fire after fuel spilled on impact, but the circumstances that caused it to go down remain under investigation.
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Zimbabwe Govt Reveals What Happened Moments After Chivayo’s Helicopter Crash
