Two Dead, 44 Escape Unhurt As Two Planes Collide Mid-Air

NAIROBI, Kenya March 5 -At least two people were killed on Tuesday morning when two planes, both from the Wilson Airport, collided at the Nairobi National Park.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has said that the accident happened at around 10am, adding that about 44 others escaped unhurt.

One of the aircraft, a Dash 8 registration number 5YSLK belonging to Safari Link, was headed for Diani with 44 passengers and the crew.

The other aircraft, a Cessna plane registration number 5YNNJ belonging to Ninety-Nines Flying School had two occupants -a trainer and trainee pilot -on board and was on a training session, according to the police.

“Investigations have commenced through various agencies led by the Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID) and the National Police Service to establish the cause of the accident,” KCAA said.

As a result of the collision, the Cessna plane crashed, killing the two on the spot while Safarilink aircraft was flown back to Wilson Airport where it landed safely with no casualties.

Safarilink Aviation also confirmed none of their passengers were hurt in the accident. The aircraft had left Wilson Airport at 9.45am with 39 passengers and 5 crew when “they experienced a loud bang soon after take-off.”

“The crew decided to immediately turn back to Nairobi-Wilson Airport for further inspection and assessment and landed safely. There were no casualties reported. The relevant agencies have been notified and together with Safarilink Aviation are investigating the incident,” the operator said.

There have been several other crashes in the country whose most causes are yet to be established due to lack of proper investigations.

In one of the latest accidents in Buna, Wajir county, a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) chopper crashed moments after takeoff from Buna hospital.

The same day, another crash involving chopper registration number 5Y-SDL was also reported in Arbajan, Wajir.

Some of the air crashes that have occurred in the last seven months include in July last year when a Fennec chopper crashed in Chemolingot stadium in Baringo county; on June 24 last year when the military Mi-17 chopper on a training mission crashed in Ole Tepesi area of Kajiado, killing 17 soldiers; and on November 9 when two KDF pilots were injured after Airforce Fennec helicopter hit a power cable as it flew from Kisamis area, Kajiado West.

Another crash was reported on December 17 last year when at least 10 people were seriously injured after the aircraft they were travelling in crashed and caught fire in Kiunga, Lamu County. The ten included two pilots, seven army officers and one police officer and were on board a Cesna208, registration number 5Y-GOK.