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By Danielle Gusmaroli and Mike Behr
Livingstone - A British couple celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary were killed when their light aircraft crashed after a flight over Victoria Falls.
Rebecca and Justin Ward were returning from the popular tourist spot when the plane developed technical problems.
The Canadian pilot of the Cessna 210 made a mayday call to report an oil leak about 20 minutes after takeoff, and then the propeller fell off, causing the plane to plunge to the ground.
He attempted a crash-landing in a field near the Zambian village of Zimba, but the plane crashed into trees and exploded into flames.
The couple, three Australian friends and the pilot were killed instantly.
Rebecca Ward, 26, ran a recruitment agency, and her 27-year-old husband, Justin, worked as a window cleaner. They lived in Uxbridge, Middlesex.
The childhood sweethearts had spent months planning the adventure holiday in Zambia, which included a safari.
Shannon Farmer, 50, who was travelling with the couple but did not take the flight, said: "We all arrived at camp together when Justin and Rebecca found out they could charter a flight to the waterfalls. They were really excited as it was something they had wanted to do for a long time. "
Rebecca's close friend and business partner, Fiona Sheridan, 33, said: "We are all in shock. Rebecca was a special, extremely kind-hearted person. She had known Justin since she was 15 and it was pretty much love at first sight.
"Justin was a big kid who loved adventures and lived for his holidays. Rebecca's parents are numb with grief. The whole thing is so raw."
Zambian civil aviation officials confirmed that the six-seater plane had recently been serviced and that no faults had been reported at the time. - Independent Foreign Service