A South African pilot, Mark Sampson, who wowed audiences at the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) airshow at Uhuru Gardens on May 28th, 2022, has died in a plane crash in Harare, Zimbabwe, on May 31st, 2022.
Sampson was part of the Marksmen Aerobatic Team, which had traveled from Cape Town to Nairobi for the airshow, held in conjunction with the Aero Club of East Africa.
According to a statement from Harare, Sampson was an 'outstanding aviator, honoured team member, trusted number-4 and loyal friend' who 'perished in a flying incident'.
A video of the accident shows the plane making a beautiful display before experiencing a failure, resulting in a crash.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed were among the dignitaries who attended the KDF Museum Air Show, where the Marksmen Aerobatic Team had put on a spectacular show.
