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JANUARY 15, 2026

MID-FLIGHT LIFE-SAVING ACTION LANDS PROFLIGHT ZAMBIA CABIN CREW MEMBER ZTA 2025 INDIVIDUAL CHAIRMAN’S AWARD

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – What began as a routine flight for Proflight Zambia’s cabin crew member Yvonne Makalu has become a defining moment in her career and a powerful reminder of the critical safety role played by cabin crew across the aviation industry.

Makalu was recently awarded the 2025 Individual Chairman’s Award at the Tourism Excellence Awards after her calm, decisive response to a medical emergency on board Proflight flight P0051, operating from Cape Town to Lusaka via Livingstone, helped save a passenger’s life.

This year’s Chairman’s Award recognised unsung heroes within the travel and tourism sector whose professionalism and dedication uphold safety standards and reinforce confidence in Zambia’s tourism industry.

The incident occurred during a flight that included among its passengers Zambia Tourism Agency (ZTA) Board Chairman Daniel Brink, who witnessed Makalu’s actions first-hand.

When a passenger suddenly fell critically ill mid-flight, Makalu immediately took charge, administering emergency first aid and coordinating the response with the ground medical team until the aircraft landed, and the passenger was safely transferred for onward treatment. Her composure, training, and focus ensured the passenger received continuous assistance throughout the remainder of the journey.

Unaware that she was to be honoured, Makalu attended the awards ceremony believing she had been invited simply as a guest. The announcement of her name came as a wonderful surprise.

“I was very emotional and even shed a tear because I did not expect it,” Makalu said after receiving the award. “As the story was being narrated, I realised it was my flight. I simply did my best to make sure the passenger was okay until we landed. I am grateful to the organisers, Proflight Zambia and my family for the support. However, the biggest win for me is that I saved the passenger’s life; there is no better reward than that.”

Speaking on the recognition, Proflight Zambia Director of Flight Operations, Captain Josias Walubita, said the award reflects the airline’s deep-rooted safety culture and the professionalism of its cabin crew.

“At Proflight Zambia, safety is not just a priority, it is our foundation,” Captain Walubita said. “Our cabin crew are trained aviation professionals who are entrusted with passenger safety from the moment they step onto the apron for boarding and the aircraft doors close, to the moment they disembark at their destination. Yvonne’s actions demonstrate the high standards we expect and the confidence we place in our crews to respond effectively in critical situations.”

Captain Walubita noted that while cabin crew are often perceived as being responsible primarily for onboard service, their foremost responsibility is the safety, security and wellbeing of passengers.

“This recognition reinforces an important message: cabin crew are first responders in the sky. Yvonne’s professionalism and courage reflect the values of Proflight Zambia and the culture of accountability, preparedness and care we strive to uphold every day.”

Makalu’s recognition not only celebrates individual excellence, but also highlights the airline’s ongoing investment in training, safety systems and operational standards to ensure passenger wellbeing across its network.

For Makalu, the award marks a personal milestone as well as a reminder of the responsibility she carries every time she steps on board an aircraft.
“We are trained for moments like these,” she said. “When something happens, you don’t think about recognition, but instead you think about the passenger. I’m proud to serve in a role where safety truly comes first.”
 
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About Proflight Zambia
Proflight Zambia, established in 2005, is Zambia’s leading scheduled airline. Operating from its base in Lusaka its domestic routes include Kalumbila, Kasama, Livingstone, Mansa, Mfuwe, Ndola, and Solwezi, with seasonal safari routes to Jeki/Royal airstrips in Lower Zambezi National Park. The airline’s regional flights include South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, operating between Lusaka and Johannesburg, Lusaka and Cape Town (via Livingstone), Livingstone and Cape Town direct, Lusaka and Windhoek (via Livingstone), Livingstone and Windhoek direct, Lusaka and Maun (via Livingstone), and Livingstone and Maun direct.
The airline prides itself in providing a safe, reliable, efficient, and friendly service, and offering good value to business and leisure travellers locally and internationally.
The airline operates five 50-seat Bombardier CRJ-200 jets, one Bombardier CRJ-100 parcel freighter jet, and five 29-seat Jetstream 41 turboprop aircraft.
More information is available at www.flyzambia.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Gillian Langmead at Langmead & Baker Ltd;
+260 979 060705;
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