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Zim’s First Female Military Helicopter Pilot, Dead In Chopper Crash
23 April 2021
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By A Correspondent | Zimbabwe’s first female military helicopter pilot, 30 year old Flight Lieutenant Annita Mapiye, was one of the pilots who perished today when their Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopter crashed and burst into flames in Arcturus on the outskirts of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, respected Journos Hopewell Chin’ono comments saying.

Lt Mapiye together with two colleagues, were on a flight over the area when their chopper crashed onto a house, the Zimbabwe National Air Force announced in a statement in the afternoon. The announcement was as follows:

Press statement

PRESS RELEASE ON THE AFZ HELICOPTER CRASH ON 23 APRIL 2021 An Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) Agusta Bell 412 (AB 412) helicopter from Number 8 Sqn at Manyame Air Force Base (Manyame AFB) crashed in the Hukuru Area in Acturus on 23 April 2021. The helicopter crashed into a house and sadly claimed the lives of two pilots and a technician as well as a child on the ground while another young girl and the mother had burn injuries and were taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital. The helicopter took off from Manyame AFB with two pilots and one aircraft technician on board on a General Handling training sortie in the Seke-Domboshava Training Area.

When contact could not be established with the aircraft the Base activated a Search and Rescue operation. As a result of the Search and Rescue effort, the aircraft wreckage was identified. In his message after the accident, Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), Air Marshal Elson Moyo, said a dark cloud had engulfed the AFZ after news of the helicopter accident that claimed the lives of three aircrew and a civilian on the ground. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives after the unfortunate accident. Our hearts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and those injured after the accident,” he said. The names of the deceased will be released after their next of keen have been informed. The cause of the accident will be established after an aircraft accident investigation and funeral arrangements for the deceased will be announced in due course.