- A Cessna 172 operated by the Kenya Aeronautical College crashed and caught fire in Kwa Chocha, Malindi, killing three people on the ground
- The victims include two boda boda drivers and a pillion passenger, while one motorcyclist was burned beyond recognition trying to save his motorcycle
- The captain, trainer and instructor of the plane survived the accident and were taken to Tawfiq Hospital in good condition.
- Authorities confirmed an investigation is ongoing, with the crash causing extensive damage to nearby buildings and drawing hundreds of spectators
Kilifi – A light aircraft crashed and caught fire in Kwa Chocha, Malindi along the Malindi-Mombasa Highway on Friday, January 10, killing several people.
Source: Twitter
The ill-fated Cessna 172, operated by the Kenya Aeronautical Academy, reportedly developed a technical fault in the air, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing.
Reports indicated that the landing turned out to be a disaster as the plane veered off the runway and hit motorbikes parked near the newly built hotel.
Those who witnessed the incident described the horrific incident, where the accident claimed the lives of two bodaboda drivers and the pillion passenger, who was identified as a local teacher.
One of the riders, in a desperate attempt to save his motorbike, was burnt beyond recognition when the plane burst into flames.
Video footage and photos circulating online showed the plane engulfed in flames, with the remains of charred bodies lying near the wreckage.
A motorcycle believed to belong to one of the dead bodaboda riders was seen near the accident site.
Who were in the crashed plane
Kilifi county police commander Joseph Ongwae confirmed the deaths of the people and said that investigations into the accident are ongoing.
“Three people were lost in the field. Our teams responded quickly to secure the area and evacuate the injured workers,” Ongwae said.
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Security Manager George Otieno disclosed that the plane was carrying three people: a captain, a student and a teacher.
For luck Fortunately, all three survived the accident and were immediately transferred to Tawfiq Hospital in good condition.
“This was a routine training flight that normally takes off from Malindi, making a circuit around Malindi and Watamu. It is not known what went wrong, but their attempt to land on runway 8 of the Malindi Airport was unsuccessful,” he added.
The accident caused extensive damage to nearby buildings, while firefighters from KAA and Malindi Municipality battled the fire.
Officers from the Kenya Airport Police Unit and the Malindi Sub-County Police assisted in securing the scene and clearing the area, which had attracted hundreds of onlookers.
What are the major plane crashes in 2024?
Meanwhile, several plane crashes have made December 2024 and January 2025 difficult for the airline industry.
Arguably, the worst of them was the Jeju Air plane crash, which occurred on December 28, when the pilots tried to land at Muan Airport, South Korea.
The plane reportedly lost control due to a malfunction in its front landing gear, killing approximately 179 of the 181 passengers.
Reports indicated that many recent plane crashes were caused by mechanical failures, bad weather and external interference, shaking public confidence in the safety of aviation.
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