A South African pilot reportedly took his own life when he flew a plane into a building in Botswana in an apparent attempt to kill his wife on Saturday.
Several reports indicated that pilot Charl Viljoen flew a twin-engine aircraft into the clubhouse of the Matsieng Flying Club at Matsieng airstrip, just outside the capital, Gaborone. Upon impact, the plane and building went up in flames, which also destroyed a nearby control tower and about 13 vehicles.
The pilot was certified dead upon arrival to the hospital, and no other casualties were reported.
The Matsieng Flying Club said in a news release that the plane flew into the clubhouse at ground level and was destroyed on impact. The flying club also said emergency services were on the scene within minutes.
The club said that, prior to the crash, the plane had made some low passes past the building, which prompted the club to evacuate.
“Matsieng Flying Club members sensed that the pilot might have had an ulterior motive at the time and ordered an immediate evacuation of the club premises.”
After he left the clubhouse, Viljoen, an employee of Kalahari Air Services, traveled north to Gaborone, where he took a Beechcraft Kingair B200 aircraft from Sir Seretse Khama international airport. He then flew the plane back to the Matsieng air strip.
It is unclear how Viljoen got access to the plane.
He also said that preliminary investigations revealed that Viljoen was killed in the crash, and one person on the ground sustained third degree burns and was flown to South Africa for care. Relevant authorities led by the Directoriate of Accident Investigation is conducting an on-site investigation and a preliminary report is expected to be completed within a month, as per International Civil Aviation Organization requirements.
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