Deaths in the Air: Coincidence or Planned?

Deaths of prominent individuals from different countries by aircraft crashes in the recent past have raised eyebrows over whether these deaths were planned or they were mere coincidences.

On 18^th April this year, Kenyans were thrown into shock after President Ruto announced the death of the Chief of the Defense Forces General Francis Ogolla. The helicopter he was in allegedly hit a tree shortly after take-off resulting in the death of General Ogolla and nine others in Elgeyo Marakwet.

On 19^th May, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was confirmed dead after the helicopter he was travelling in crashed in Dizmar Forest in Iran after days of searching. The country’s foreign affairs minister also died in that helicopter crash.

Most recently, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera yesterday confirmed that Vice President Saulos Chilima is dead onboard a Malawi military aircraft. The Malawian Defence Force had said the aircraft 'went off radar' after it left Lilongwe on Monday morning.

These are three deaths in April, May and June. Deaths of high-profile people. Deaths onboard military aircraft. Coincidentally, all the aircraft were found in forested areas.

Another interesting thing is that there are speculations of foul play in all three deaths. General Ogolla had been accused by Kenya Kwanza faithful of having almost sabotaged President Ruto’s election. President Raisi’s hard line stances in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war had put him in a dangerous position while Chilima was seen as a potential Presidential candidate in Malawi’s next year elections.

Even as investigations continue into the causes of the crashes, speculations of serious foul play won’t go away. The fact that all the crashes happened on the respective home soils also raises even more speculation.

There is a general feeling that all three were not just by coincidence.