11 escape unhurt as aircraft crashes in Migori

A chartered aircraft that crashed at Lichota airstrip in Migori county. [Caleb Kingwara, Standard]

A chartered aircraft crashed at Lichota airstrip in Migori county moments after take off.

The aircraft which had 10 passengers and one crew member on board was heading to Nairobi before the incident.

In a statement released by the company that owns the aircraft, Z.Boskovic Air Chartered Limited, indicated that they received a notification past midday that the aircraft of registration number 5Y-ZBW was involved in a major incident during take-off.

“We are relieved to confirm that there were no fatalities or injuries reported,” reads the statement by the company.

The company has engaged the relevant authorities to support the investigations of the incident.

“Further updates will be provided if more information becomes available,” the statement further read.

Moses Ywera, a witness, said the aircraft failed to take off after the first attempt.

On the second attempt, Ywera said, the aircraft over shot the runway.

Residents were blocked from accessing Lichota airstrip after the incident.

“We rushed to help when we saw the smoke but we were blocked at the gate,” Ywera said.

The airstrip management called a fire engine from Migori county government after smoke started billowing from the aircraft.