An Air Force of Zimbabwe pilot, Air Lieutenant Nesbert Tambudza, tragically lost his life on Thursday when the Karakorum-8 (K-8) jet trainer aircraft he was flying crashed near the Guinea Fowl area, approximately 20 kilometers southeast of Gweru.
The incident occurred during a solo consolidation general handling navigation training mission.
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) confirmed the accident, noting that the aircraft was extensively damaged upon impact. No civilian casualties or property damage were reported on the ground. The ZDF has initiated a Board of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the crash.
General Phillip Valerio Sibanda, Commander of the ZDF, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing Air Lieutenant Tambudza as a “young pilot who had demonstrated immense potential.”
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Tambudza was undergoing a jet flying conversion course at Number 2 Squadron, based at the Josiah Tungamirai Air Force Base in Gweru, and was in the final phases of his training on the K-8 jet at the time of the accident.
The K-8 is a two-seat intermediate jet trainer and light attack aircraft designed by China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. It made its first flight in 1990, and as of 2023, Zimbabwe had 10 K-8 aircraft in its fleet.
This incident marks another tragic event for the Air Force of Zimbabwe, which has experienced several aircraft accidents in recent years. In 2023, a military plane from the same airbase crashed in Kwekwe, resulting in the deaths of two experienced pilots.
Funeral arrangements for Air Lieutenant Tambudza will be announced in due course. The ZDF extended its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.
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