Pilot, Student Injured as Cessna Aircraft Crashes in Nairobi National Park
Nairobi, Kenya, Sep 19 – In yet another incident raising concerns about safety protocols, a Cessna 152 light aircraft operated by West Rift Aviation School crashed within Nairobi National Park earlier this afternoon, leaving the pilot and an aviation student injured.
The crash occurred shortly after noon, marking the second aviation incident in just over a week. Last Monday, a plane carrying 11 people veered off the runway during takeoff at Lichota Airstrip in Migori County. Witnesses reported that the aircraft struggled to take off, eventually coming to a halt with smoke billowing from its engine.
Fortunately, all passengers and crew escaped unhurt, though the incident further underscores growing safety concerns surrounding smaller aircraft used for training and domestic flights.
The latest accident has once again shone a spotlight on the aviation sector in Kenya, with experts and the public alike questioning the safety standards for flight operations, particularly for smaller aircraft. The Nairobi National Park incident comes at a time when Nairobi is already grappling with fire outbreaks in densely populated areas like Kawangware, where 160 homes were recently destroyed in a massive fire, leaving 8 people injured and hundreds homeless.
As authorities investigate the cause of both aviation mishaps, concerns remain high over the safety and maintenance of Kenya’s small aircraft fleet.
ALSO READ; Check How 160 Homes Burnt, 8 Injured in Kawangware as Nairobi Battles Another Fire Outbreak
Pilot, Student Injured as Cessna Aircraft Crashes in Nairobi National Park
