Wicknell Chivayo: Events Reportedly Leading to Crash Emerge as Pilot of Second Helicopter Speaks

Captain Ronny, who reportedly flew the second helicopter alongside Chivayo's aircraft, described the final moments before the fatal crash that killed five peopleAn unexpected cloud formation separated the two helicopters mid-flight, prompting Captain Ronny to suggest an alternative route through BromleyThe last words Captain Ronny heard from Captain Soda, the pilot of Chivayo's helicopter, came as the aircraft was still navigating dense cloud coverPAY ATTENTION: Mark YEN.com.gh as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!

Captain Ronny, the alleged pilot of the helicopter that accompanied Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo's aircraft on its final flight, has shared a detailed account of the moments that led to the crash, which claimed five lives, including Chivayo and his wife Lulu.

Events reportedly leading to Wicknell Chivayo’s crash emerge as second pilot speaks. Image credit: Wicknell Chivayo, @theolla7_podcast Source: FacebookAccording to his account, the two helicopters departed together from Gandami village in Chivhu, heading towards Marondera.

Captain Ronny claimed he flew on the left side of the route while Chivayo's aircraft, piloted by Captain Soda, travelled on the right.

Video: Drama at Chivayo’s mourning as influencer is chased from tycoon’s home

The flight stated that he proceeded without incident until a cloud formation moved in from the east and enveloped Captain Ronny's helicopter.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow YEN's WhatsApp channel for a daily dose of breaking news on the go!

Adding that he immediately radioed Captain Soda to flag the deteriorating weather, but according to him, Captain Soda responded that conditions on his side remained clear and that the horizon was still visible from his position.

Captain Ronny claimed he managed to bank his helicopter out of the cloud and proposed that both aircraft take an alternative path through Bromley, where the sky looked clearer.

He explained that they agreed to fly separately before meeting up at their destination.

As Captain Ronny neared Mahusekwa, he claimed to have checked in with Captain Soda, who confirmed that Chivayo's helicopter was still inside the cloud but was moving in his direction.

A short while later, flying over Bromley and roughly ten minutes from Marondera, Captain Ronny stated that he made one final attempt to confirm the other aircraft's position, but Captain Soda reportedly replied:

Wicknell Chivayo’s wealth under scrutiny after new revelation about helicopter that killed him emerges, video

Concerned that any further communication might distract his colleague as he navigated the difficult conditions, Captain Ronny recounted that he chose not to follow up, adding that those were the last words he heard from Captain Soda.

Upon landing in Marondera, Captain Ronny said his crew began calling every phone number connected to the passengers aboard Chivayo's helicopter.

However, none of the calls connected. According to the pilot, the team initially held out hope that the aircraft had put down somewhere without mobile signal coverage.

After some time, they decided to head back towards Harare and continue searching by road.

Captain Ronny stated that it was during that drive that the news reached them: Chivayo's helicopter had gone down.

Wicknell Chivayo, his wife Lulu, and three others perished in the crash.

The Instagram video of the second pilot is below.

“Awaiting delivery”: New clip shows Wicknell Chivayo bought 3 helicopters before his death

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported on Wicknell Chivayo’s Harare mansion, which he had not fully paid for before his death in a helicopter crash.

The US$1.1 million balance was reportedly linked to an undocumented agreement to settle the debt through political services. Legal ownership had not been transferred, leaving the property’s status unresolved.

Don't miss out! Get your daily dose of sports news straight to your phone. Join YEN's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now!

Grace Asare (Entertainment Editor) Grace Appiah Asare is an Entertainment Editor at YEN.com.gh. She holds a bachelor’s degree. She has more than five years of experience as a journalist and has worked with Scooper News and Opera News, where she produced engaging news content focusing on entertainment and politics. Grace also offered volunteer services at Tales of Africa, where she produced several articles highlighting African talents. She joined yen.com.gh in 2026. Contact: grace.asare@yen.com.gh