Air Force of Zimbabwe F-7 Crash

A Chengdu J-7 of the Air Force of Zimbabwe caught fire in flight, lost control and crashed near Gweru in Midlands Province, killing the pilot, a veteran who had returned to flying for training duties. It was Zimbabwe second fatal loss of a Chinese-built jet near Gweru in 2025 after a K-8 crash in February. The F-7 is Zimbabwe only supersonic fighter type and its serviceability has long been constrained by the age of the airframes and spares availability.