Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his spouse Lucy Muteke were killed when their helicopter went down at Kudenga Farm in Marondera on September 30, roughly 40 minutes after take‑off.

Family spokesman Herbert Chivayo said the aircraft’s wreckage caught fire, exposing the occupants to jet fuel and intense heat, which left the remains severely burnt and unrecognisable.

He added that forensic teams were unable to recover any heads from the five victims, directly addressing speculation circulating on social media.

In addition to the couple, two pilots and a security officer died in the crash; the pilots have already been interred, while the security aide is scheduled for burial on Monday.

The family confirmed that Wicknell and Lucy will be laid side by side at Glen Forest Cemetery in Harare on Thursday, October 8, but without their heads.

Investigators are still probing the cause of the accident, noting a final transmission from the pilot indicating difficulty clearing cloud cover before the crash.

Recovery crews also retrieved personal items belonging to Lucy Muteke, including burnt clothing, shoes and a designer bag, which illustrated the severity of the fire.