A veteran Zimbabwe Air Force pilot has been killed after his fighter jet crashed during a training flight near the central city of Gweru.

Retired Squadron Leader Ritswanetsi Vuyo Ncube died when his Chengdu J-7 aircraft went down in the Wazheri area on Friday, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) said.

The pilot, a veteran of the Democratic Republic of Congo conflict, had returned to service as a flight instructor after previously working with the South African Air Force.

Witnesses reported seeing smoke rising from wooded terrain before rushing to the crash site. Mr Ncube’s body was found a short distance from the wreckage of the Chinese-built supersonic fighter.

According to military sources, the pilot’s final radio communication indicated a critical emergency. He reportedly shouted “fire” and said the aircraft was “uncontrollable” before contact was lost.

The aircraft is believed to be one of 12 J-7 fighters delivered to Zimbabwe in 1986. It had taken off from Josiah Tungamirai Air Force Base for what officials described as a routine training sortie.

General Phillip Valerio Sibanda, Zimbabwe’s Defence Forces Commander, said the military had learned of Mr Ncube’s death “with heavy hearts”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased,” he said in a statement.

The crash is the latest in a series of incidents involving Zimbabwe’s ageing military aircraft. In February, Air Lieutenant Nesbert Tambudza died when his Karakorum-8 trainer crashed near Gweru during a solo training flight.

Two other fatal crashes occurred in recent years, both involving trainer aircraft near Gweru. In 2020, two pilots died when their SIAI-Marchetti SF260 crashed in Somabhula. Another SF260 went down in 2023, again killing both crew members.

The pattern of accidents has raised concerns about the airworthiness of Zimbabwe’s military fleet. Many of the aircraft date back decades and face maintenance challenges due to the difficulty of sourcing spare parts.

Zimbabwe has sought technical assistance from Nigeria and other countries to help modernise its air force capabilities and improve safety standards.

The Zimbabwe Air Force is expected to conduct a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Friday’s crash.

Mr Ncube had served as an instructor pilot with the South African Air Force from 2006 to 2009 before returning to Zimbabwe to train the next generation of military aviators.