EBAN is saddened to report that captain William Silaa lost his life after the AS350B3 helicopter he was flying came down in Selous Game Park in Tanzania. Three other passengers also died in the incident, including parliamentary candidate Deo Filikunjombe.

Silaa was an experienced, knowledgeable and well-respected pilot who featured on the cover of EBAN in April 2014. During our interviews with him we learned of his involvement in Kilimanjaro rescue missions, and ferrying politicians around the country to meet the electorate during campaigns was one of his regular duties.

Police in Tanzania have yet to establish the cause of the crash or the owner of the rotorcraft.