One dead, one missing after small aircraft goes down in Zambezi Valley

VICTORIA FALLS – One person died, two survived and one was missing after a small aircraft on a Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) mission went down in the Zambezi Valley on Friday, officials said on Sunday.

The Cessna 182 with two South Africans and two Zimbabweans onboard was reported missing on Friday before a search was launched in a mountainous area between Chirundu and the Zambezi Valley.

Hampered by thick forests and mountains, the searchers were frustrated until Sunday when another pilot spotted the wreckage.

ZimParks spokesman Tinashe Farawo told ZimLive that one person died on the spot, while two were injured. A third, described as a spotter, is reported to have walked away from the wreckage to seek help – but has not been seen or heard from since.

ZimLive sources said the pilot was among the survivors, but Farawo could not confirm this, insisting that he was waiting for clearance to release further details.

“The two South Africans usually help us with our wildlife management, they are experts in the field,” Farawo said. “On this particular mission they were following animal trackers as part of a wildlife survey.”