Auric Air plane crash pilot was set to leave for Bombardier training in Canada

Dar es Salaam. Nelson Mabeyo, who was killed in the ill-fated Auric Air plane crash early on Monday morning, was set to leave for Canada to upgrade his piloting skills next week.

Nelson Mabeyo, the son of Tanzania’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Venance Mabeyo, died when the aircraft he was flying crashed at the Seronera Airstrip which is inside the Serengeti.

Nelson, together with his co-pilot, Nelson Orutu, died in the crash.

Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) managing director, Mr Ladislaus Matindi, told The Citizen on Monday that Nelson had just passed an interview with the national carrier that was to see him leave for Canada to be trained on how to fly bombardier aircraft.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of the demise of this young and brilliant captain, who was to join ATCL next week,” noted Mr Matindi.

He said Nelson came second in the recent interview in which ATCL sought to up its pilot numbers by 16.

“He would have left earlier but he requested to complete serving the contract with his current employer (Auric Air Services). It was unfortunate that tragedy struck,” said the ATCL boss.

In another development, mourners will pay their final respects to the body fallen pilot, Nelson Mabeyo tomorrow at Lugalo Hospital, Dar es Salaam, family sources have confirmed.

Speaking on phone today September 24, TPDF's spokesperson Colonel Ramadhan Dogori said that other procedures would be announced later.