A security aide attached to Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo has shared details of the final moments before a helicopter crash that claimed five lives on September 30, 2026.
The aide was travelling in another helicopter that was flying alongside the aircraft carrying Chivayo when communication problems reportedly began.
According to his account, worsening weather conditions played a major role in the unfolding tragedy as both helicopters attempted to return to their destination.
Weather Conditions Trigger Concern
The aide explained that the pilots of the two helicopters remained in contact as the weather deteriorated.
At one point, the pilot carrying Chivayo reportedly suggested changing course through Bromley in an effort to avoid the bad conditions.
The witness said the pilot of the other helicopter repeatedly expressed concern during radio conversations.
“What I observed during the pilots’ communication was that the pilot flying the boss kept saying: ‘I’m in bad weather, I haven’t exited the cloud,’” the aide recounted.
Final Radio Contact Before Crash
The situation became more troubling as communication continued.
The last known location of the helicopter carrying Chivayo was reportedly over Surrey before contact was lost.
The aide recalled that his pilot informed the other aircraft that they were around 10 minutes away from their destination, but the response raised immediate concern.
“The pilot flying the boss appeared confused, asking, ‘Which destination?’ Our pilot responded that Marondera, but no reply came. All communication with the other helicopter was lost,” the aide said.
That exchange was reportedly the final contact with the helicopter before it crashed.
Five People Confirmed Dead
The crash claimed the lives of everyone aboard the aircraft, including Chivayo.
The aide also sought to correct reports about the number of casualties.
According to him, five people died in the incident, contrary to some early reports that placed the death toll at six.
The identities of the other victims had not been fully disclosed in the account shared by the aide.
Public Attention on the Tragedy
The accident has drawn significant attention because of Chivayo’s prominence in Zimbabwe.
The eyewitness account from the security aide has provided one of the clearest descriptions so far of the events leading up to the crash, particularly the difficulties encountered by the pilot in the final moments of the flight.
