In a bizarre turn of events, a male pilot was killed after allegedly purposefully flying a plane into a clubhouse at the Matsieng Aerodrome just north of Gaborone, Botswana. Although the details of the incident remain unclear, it appears that the man crashed a King Air private aircraft in an effort to kill his wife.
A video captured of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, shows the clubhouse collapsing under the impact of the aircraft, and several cars bursting into flames as a result.
A pilot reportedly committed suicide in Botswana yesterday. VIDEO 1 pic.twitter.com/ZjTMKtytvS
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) March 24, 2019
Botswana plane crash: The aftermath – VIDEO 2 pic.twitter.com/78g0iv3sSe
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) March 24, 2019
It is alleged that the pilot, who has been identified as Pretorian Charl Viljoen, was attending a baby shower hosted at the clubhouse when he and his wife got into an altercation. Viljoen reportedly began physically assaulting her and was chased away from the venue.
Speaking to EWN, a witness claims that Viljoen called a friend, who was also at the baby shower, to ask where his wife was after he was chased away. The friend then realised what was about to happen, and managed to evacuate the 50 guests from the clubhouse minutes before the plane crashed into it.
Viljoen was the only fatality and there were no injuries, however, 13 vehicles, a control tower and the clubhouse were all destroyed.
Viljoen had been working as a chartered pilot in Botswana since October 1, 2018.
Picture: Charl Viljoen/Facebook