Masvingo, Zimbabwe: A pilot was killed and his wife seriously injured after a small aircraft crashed in a remote mountainous area of Masvingo Province, authorities and local media reported on Sunday.
The aircraft went down near Nyoka Village, located between Zaka District and Bikita District, approximately 85 kilometres southeast of the provincial capital, Masvingo.
According to reports, the light aircraft was carrying two occupants, the pilot and his wife when it crashed on Sunday morning. The aircraft burst into flames after striking the ground, leaving the pilot trapped inside the wreckage.
Witnesses said the pilot suffered severe burns and died before rescuers could pull him from the wreckage. His wife survived the crash but sustained serious injuries, including broken legs. She was taken to hospital for treatment, though authorities have not yet released details about her condition.
Videos and images from the scene showed the wreckage scattered among trees and tall grass, with parts of the fuselage still burning shortly after the crash. Residents in the area reportedly rushed to assist before emergency services arrived.
Investigators from the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe have been dispatched to examine the crash site and determine the cause of the accident. Authorities are expected to release further details once the investigation progresses.
Some witnesses suggested the couple on board may have been foreign nationals, possibly Australians, although officials have not confirmed their identities.
Authorities have urged the public to allow investigators to complete their work before drawing conclusions about the cause of the accident.
