By Twink Jones Gadama
In a stunning turn of events, a South African pilot and his passenger narrowly escaped death after their light aircraft developed engine trouble and crash-landed in Dzalanyama Forest in Dedza, Malawi.
The dramatic incident occurred on a sunny morning, leaving witnesses in awe and gratitude for the duo’s miraculous survival.
According to eyewitness Zacharia Joshua, a farmer who was working in his garden with his family, the plane flew low and fast, whizzing past him mere meters before crashing approximately 100 meters away.
The loud impact and screeching sounds sent shockwaves through the forest, with parts of the plane scattering in all directions.
Joshua, who was the first to respond to the crash, saw one of the occupants emerge from the wreckage, followed by the second a few minutes later.
The pilot, seemingly in shock, began running through the forest, with Joshua eventually catching up to him and calming him down.
The quick-thinking farmer immediately contacted the Chafumbwa Police Unit, and soon, the two South Africans were rushed to Kamuzu Central Hospital, where they received treatment as outpatients.
Officials from Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) also arrived at the scene to initiate the procedural process for air accidents.
The aircraft, a P68 type registration number ZS-LSX, a member of the Cesna family, had been flying from Mozambique to Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, with a scheduled stopover at KIA for refueling.
However, the pilot had alerted KIA control tower to an engine problem, prompting an emergency response.
Communication was lost shortly after, and the plane crashed approximately 100 kilometers from Dedza Boma, near the Mozambique border.
KIA Police spokesperson Peter Botha confirmed that the pilot had signaled distress, but contact was lost shortly after.
The airport authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
As the two survivors receive medical attention, the aviation community is breathing a sigh of relief at the miraculous escape.
The incident serves as a testament to the pilot’s skill and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
The investigation is ongoing, and details of the crash are still emerging.
However, one thing is clear: the people of Malawi and the international community are grateful for the safe recovery of the pilot and passenger, and the heroic actions of Zacharia Joshua, who sprang into action to assist the stricken duo.
