On May 31, 2022, a South African pilot, Mark Sampson, met his untimely demise in a plane crash in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, while returning to Nairobi from Cape Town.
Sampson was part of the Marksmen Aerobatic Team that had entertained Kenyans with a spectacular display at the Uhuru Gardens on May 28, 2022, as part of the KDF Air Show.
The event, which was attended by notable dignitaries including President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopia's Premier Abiy Ahmed, saw operations at the Wilson Airport halted for the day.
As the team performed their 'Formation Aerobatics' drill, a chilling video captured the moment the plane spun magnificently before plummeting suddenly, leaving spectators aghast.
Authorities in Harare confirmed the incident, eulogizing Sampson as an 'outstanding aviator.'
Mark Sampson's death has left many Kenyans feeling cheated and disappointed, as they had believed the pilots performing at the airshow were their own men in uniform.
"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," the team stated in a press release.