A friend of Prince William and Kate Middleton was killed in a plane crash, along with their son. Let’s see Who is Pilot Mark Jenkins and what happened to them in detail.
What happened to Prince William’s friend Mark?
Pilot Mark Jenkins, a friend of Prince William and Kate Middleton, was flying over Kenya’s Tsavo National Park with his son Peter when the jet crashed, prompting an investigation.
Pilot Mark Jenkins was “a man we all liked and admired,” the future King stated in a message from the official Twitter account of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Mark and his son Peter were flying over Kenya’s Tsavo National Park when their plane collided with the conservation area. The duo was aboard a Cessna sky wagon fixed-wing aircraft when it crashed at 11 a.m. on Thursday, according to officials.
The buddies first met during William’s gap year and have reconnected several times subsequently. The conservationist was inspired by the royal’s work with the organization Tusk.
Mr. Jenkins was a well-liked Kenya Wildlife Service warden with a passion for flying who was dedicated to conserving wildlife in East Africa.
Statement from Prince Williams:
In a statement issued today, William stated: “Yesterday, I lost a friend who had dedicated his life to animal conservation in some of East Africa’s most famous national parks.
“Mark Jenkins and his son Peter were tragically killed while conducting an aircraft patrol over Tsavo National Park. “Tonight, I’m thinking about Mark’s wife, family, and colleagues who’ve sadly lost a man we all loved and admired.” Following the unexpected crash, an inquiry has been begun.
On what was a difficult day yesterday, the Prince of Wales also lost a close friend of his, who was tragically killed in a plane crash in Kenya along with his son. Mark Jenkins was a ranger, conservationist and bush pilot and shared a passion with William for the environment. https://t.co/p7R2EkWumQ
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) December 9, 2022
Plane crash: Explained
According to reports, they were attempting to drive cows, camels, and goats out of the park when the event occurred. There were unsubstantiated reports this morning that the plane was shot at from the ground.
Authorities and herders have previously clashed in the National Park. However, officials stated in the statement that it is too early to determine the reason for the disaster.
“Teams from the Kenya Wildlife Service and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) are on the site investigating the circumstances of the collision,” it said. “KWS extends its heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families of the deceased.”
The Frankfurt Zoological Society paid tribute by saying:
Mark was a lifelong conservationist and experienced bush pilot, who dedicated his career to protecting wildlife in some of East Africa’s most renowned national parks. Conservation was in Mark’s blood; as the son of a Game Warden for Kenya Wildlife Service, he largely grew up in Kenya’s Meru National Park.
Mark enjoyed a distinguished career with KWS and others, and he joined FZS as a Project Leader in 2014, first in Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve, and then in Serengeti National Park until 2016. An experienced pilot, Mark helped build up the airwing of Serengeti National Park by introducing two Aviat Husky aircraft dedicated to anti-poaching and surveillance.
He was also instrumental in establishing the first de-snaring teams inside the park, providing local employment while helping to reduce the impact of snares on wildlife.
Passionate, principled, and strong-willed, Mark was never afraid to speak his mind and stand for what he believed in. He was a commanding presence and made an indelible impression wherever he went.
Those of us who worked alongside him remember him for his determination, thoughtfulness, his energy, his mischievous smile, and his deep love of wildlife and wild places. We will miss his warmth, his hilarious stories, and his sometimes rather irreverent comments which always made us smile. Mark was a devoted husband and father and leaves behind his wife, and his son.
Our deepest condolences go to his family, who tragically lost two beloved family members, to their friends, and to all conservationists who knew Mark and worked with him. Our heartfelt condolences go also to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the NGO for which Mark did yesterday’s patrol flight.
Who was Pilot Mark Jenkins?
William and Kate Middleton have been known to sign off personal social media postings with their first initials. The prince met Jenkins during his gap year after graduating from Eton College in 2000, according to PEOPLE, and the two stayed in touch. Jenkins tracked Prince William’s involvement with the African animal conservation organization Tusk in the years that followed.
According to the Frankfurt Zoological Society, Mark and Peter were on an airborne patrol for the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust when the plane crashed. Mark has been a conservationist his entire life and a veteran bush pilot. He formerly worked for the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Frankfurt Zoological Society.
“Passionate, principled, and strong-willed, Mark was never hesitant to speak his mind and stand up for what he believed in; he was a commanding presence who left a lasting impact wherever he went,” according to the obituary.
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