By Staff Reporter
BULAWAYO – A helicopter crashed on Sunday on takeoff at an airstrip in Masvingo, while enroute to pick president Emmerson Mnangagwa who was attending an event organised by his Zanu PF party’s youth league.
All crew and passengers survived this crash by an Air Force of Zimbabwe AS-332 “Cougar” VIP helicopter which aborted take-off and experienced a very hard landing at Masvingo Airport Sunday afternoon.
Government spokesman Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana said “there were no casualties” in the incident.
“There was an aviation incident involving one of the Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopters that travelled to Masvingo today.
“Thankfully there were no casualties. Civil aviation authorities are investigating and their findings will be shared with the nation when they become available,” said Mangwana.
According to local publication ZimLive the helicopter took off from an airstrip in Masvingo to pick-up Mnangagwa who was attending an event organised by his Zanu PF party’s youth league and return him to Harare.
“The Air Force chopper was flying to Bikita to pick him (Mnangagwa) up.
It was clear skies but something catastrophic happened on takeoff,” a source said.
“The Air Force chopper was flying to Bikita to pick him (Mnangagwa) up.
It was clear skies but something catastrophic happened on takeoff,” a source said.
Source – ZimLive