Zimbabwe veteran pilot killed in Gweru jet crash

A senior Air Force of Zimbabwe pilot died on Friday after his Chengdu J-7/F-7 fighter jet crashed in the Carafoc area of Gweru, eyewitnesses and military sources have confirmed.

Retired Squadron Leader Vuyo Ncube, a seasoned pilot and veteran of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) war, had returned to the Air Force to serve as a flight instructor. He was on a training mission when the tragic accident occurred.

The ill-fated aircraft, a Chinese-made supersonic Chengdu J-7 – known locally as the F-7 – is believed to be one of 12 jets delivered to Zimbabwe in 1986. It took off from Josiah Tungamirai Air Force Base, formerly known as Thornhill, just outside Gweru.

Residents in the area reported seeing smoke rising from a wooded area, followed by a loud explosion. They rushed to the crash site, initially hoping the pilot had managed to eject safely.

"There was a lot of smoke among the trees. When we got there, we didn't find him in the cockpit, which made us think he might have ejected," one witness told ZimLive.

However, hopes were dashed when Ncube's body was discovered a short distance from the wreckage.

An Air Force source disclosed that in his final radio transmission, Ncube had reported a critical emergency. "He shouted 'fire' and said the aircraft was uncontrollable," the source said.

The Air Force of Zimbabwe is expected to issue a formal statement as investigations into the crash get underway.

The accident marks a significant loss for the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, particularly given Ncube's combat experience and training role.