Tragedy As South African Pilot Involved In KDF Museum Airshow Dies In A Crash  

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 1-A South African pilot who was involved in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) museum airshow have died in Zimbabwe.

This was after he was involved in a crash, authorities said.

Mark Sampason, who was among the pilots of the Marksmen Aerobatic team died in a flying incident in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.

The team was on the return leg of a roundabout trip from Cape Town to Nairobi.

In Nairobi, the team performed a successful aerobatic formation display without any incident.

After the show, the team issued a statement saying they had a great weekend in Kenya displayed at Wilson airport in Nairobi.

“We were treated to exceptional Kenyan hospitality. The Museum Airshow Festival was held at the Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi and we were fortunate to display with the highly skilled aviators from the Kenyan Airforce (KAF) as well as a number of other commercial operators including Kenya Airways.”

“We were fortunate to meet with the President of Kenya, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, a keen aviator (a member of ACEA) and a new fan of ours,” they said. President Kenyatta was among hundreds of Kenyans who attended the Festival at the revamped Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi. The President was accompanied by visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to the spectacular air show organized by the KDF, under Chief of Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi, in conjunction with the Aero Club.

It was the first time the military and civilian air operators have come together to treat the Kenyan public to exciting displays of aerobatic capabilities.

A video that captured the crash was widely shared online.

“It is with great sadness and a profound sense of loss that today, the MARKSMEN AEROBATIC TEAM can confirm that Mark Sampson, outstanding aviator, honoured team member, trusted number-4 and loyal friend, perished in a flying incident in Harare, Zimbabwe,” read part of the statement.