Pilot flying Chivayo was confused about destination before signal lost

A security aide to Wicknell Chivayo has contradicted the police account of Wednesday’s fatal helicopter crash, saying there were five people on board, not six.

Froster Chisi, who was travelling in a separate helicopter carrying other security aides, said the two aircraft ran into “challenging weather conditions” while returning from Chivayo’s rural home in Gandami, Chivhu.

Speaking to journalists at the crash site, Chisi said the party had left Harare at 3 pm for Gandami and took off again at 4.20 pm for the return flight, with a planned stopover in Marondera before proceeding to Harare.

“On our way back, the weather became challenging, and our pilot suggested that we reroute and go via Bromley instead,” he said.

Chisi said he was listening to communication between the two pilots. The pilot flying Chivayo’s helicopter kept saying: “I’m in bad weather, I haven’t exited the cloud.”

His last transmission, according to Chisi, was that he was flying over Surrey. When Chisi’s pilot said he was 10 minutes from his destination, the other pilot appeared confused.

“He asked, ‘Which destination?’ Our pilot responded, Marondera, but no reply came. All communication with the other helicopter was lost,” Chisi said.

Chisi said their helicopter landed in Marondera and they waited for Chivayo’s aircraft, which never arrived.

They then decided to fly on to Harare to collect vehicles, believing the other helicopter may have diverted elsewhere because of the weather and that they would be able to locate it by road once communication was restored.

He said they spent more than an hour trying to reach Chivayo, his wife and the crew by phone before receiving news that the helicopter had crashed and there were no survivors.

“There was the boss, his wife, the wife’s aide and two pilots,” Chisi said.

Police had said on Wednesday that six people were on board the aircraft, which was carrying the businessman and his wife Lucy Muteke when it came down at Kudenga Farm in Marondera.

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