New details emerge on Zaka plane crash
New details have emerged surrounding the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of a pilot and left his wife seriously injured in Nyoka Village, Zaka, Masvingo Province, on Sunday, 15 March 2026, at around 11:00 am. The aircraft, which had two people on board, reportedly developed a mechanical fault mid-flight.
According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the plane was en route from Komani Aerodrome in Mt Hampden, Harare, to Chipinda Pools when it began emitting unusual sounds.
Eyewitnesses told TellZim News that the woman attempted to escape the aircraft using a parachute moments before the crash.
It is understood that the plane was in mid-air when a sudden burst caused it to swerve and descend rapidly. Despite the pilot’s desperate efforts to regain control, the aircraft ultimately nose-dived into an area of trees and tall grass before catching fire.
Sources confirmed that the occupants were husband and wife. The woman reportedly tried to parachute to safety, but the chute became entangled in the aircraft’s wings before tearing apart, causing her to fall a few metres from where the plane ultimately crashed. She suffered severe injuries, including broken legs.
Villagers who rushed to the scene described arriving while the wreckage was still ablaze. They initially could not access the pilot, who was trapped inside the aircraft.
The flames later subsided enough for them to retrieve his body using a tree log. Tragically, the pilot had already died and had suffered burns from the waist down. Among those involved in the recovery were villagers Jairos Nyoka and Jeffrey Nyoka.
The injured woman was reportedly in severe distress, repeatedly asking if her husband had survived. She was quickly transported to the hospital by a local Mushikashika vehicle, though her current condition remains unclear.
Some locals suggested the couple may have been Australian nationals, although authorities had not confirmed their identities.
Ward 2 Councillor Sarah Mamvura, who visited the crash site, corroborated eyewitness accounts to TellZim News, saying she had spoken directly with the people who were the first to arrive at the scene of the crash. *_-Pindula_*
