5 Aircraft Crashes In 2023 Where The Occupants Survived

When an aircraft crash occurs, it grabs the attention of aviation experts, enthusiasts and members of the public as a whole.

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Dec 19, 2023 - 13:52
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5 Aircraft Crashes In 2023 Where The Occupants Survived
Chopper crashes at Wajir on November 20, 2023 and photo of a light aircraft that crash-landed at Guara Primary School in Nyeri on September 1, 2023. /VIRAL TEA KE

Automatically, aircraft or plane crashes are headline makers. You are talking about dealing with what is considered the safest form of transport on planet Earth.

Aircraft usually have limitless open skies available to them anytime they take flight, thus navigating traffic can involve separating the altitude of planes A and B as well as distance, among others, to avoid planes colliding into each other in midair.

When an aircraft crash occurs, it grabs the attention of aviation experts, enthusiasts and members of the public as a whole.

But while we hear reports of no survivors from some of the deadliest plane crashes anywhere in the world, in Kenya and this year, the uniqueness of the aircraft crashes that have been widely reported has seen occupants survive the ordeal, even though they escaped with injuries.

Viral Tea takes a look at plane crashes where the passengers survived:

10 Injured Following Plane Crash In Lamu

10 people on Sunday, December 17 sustained serious injuries after an aircraft they were traveling in crashed in the Kiunga area in Lamu County.

Screengrabs of images of scenes of a KDF plane crash in Lamu on December 17, 2023. /FILE

Videos seen by Viral Tea showed the light aircraft engulfed in flames, likely an effect of hitting the ground. Reports indicated that the 10 included seven Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers, a police officer, the pilot and his co-pilot.

Lamu East Deputy County Commissioner George Kubai confirmed the incident, saying the ten were returning to Nairobi after dropping off students from an educational tour in Nairobi. The trip was sponsored by a local legislator.

The Cessna aircraft had flown to Kiunga last week to pick up pupils who had excelled in the 2023 KCPE exams for the educational trip to Nairobi and flew them back safely before the accident occurred.

Kubai explained that the plane took off from Kiunga airstrip with ten people on board and hit electricity poles and wires before crashing and bursting into flames. One house was burnt in the 1.30 pm accident.

"The aircraft had dropped off the pupils and shortly after taking off from Kiunga airstrip, it hit electricity poles and wires before crashing and bursting into flames. Fortunately, all ten people on board escaped with minor injuries. They were treated at Kiunga Hospital before being evacuated to Nairobi," said Kubai.

KDF Chopper Crashes In Wajir

Two people were seriously injured after a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) helicopter crashed during takeoff at Wajir Airport on Monday, November 20. Reports indicated that the chopper was ferrying food aid to flood victims affected by the ongoing El Nino rains.

Footage circulated online showed the chopper crashing moments after takeoff. The 31-second clip which went viral showed the Mi17 Kenya Air Force chopper ascending a few feet in the air in front of residents who watched as it rapidly descended and crashed into a cloud of dust much to their horror.

Police stated that the pilot and his team had dropped relief food in the area and were leaving when the incident happened at about 4 pm.

The injured who included the crew were rushed to the local hospital with KDF yet to issue a statement on the matter. Five military officers on board the helicopter were reportedly injured in the crash.

Chopper Crash In Wajir En Route To Pick Up KCSE Papers

On the same day, three people were injured when a helicopter crashed at Wajir Airport on its way to collect Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination papers.

North Eastern Regional Commissioner John Otieno confirmed the incident and told reporters that the helicopter developed mechanical problems immediately after take-off. The victims, according to reports, included a pilot and two officials who were escorting examination materials from Wajir to Abarjahan in the same area.

The three were taken to hospital where they received treatment as the cause of both crashes, even as police launched investigations into the incident, whose cause was not immediately revealed.

Plane Crash At Primary School In Nyeri

Two people were injured on Friday, September 1 after a light fixed-wing aircraft crash-landed at Guara Primary School in Kieni, Nyeri County, disrupting the learning of students in the school.

The aircraft that was involved in the incident was said to have been from Mount Kenya Flight School, with the pilot, a student, said to be completing a routine patrol under the guidance of an instructor.

The plane crashed into one of the school's buildings, forcing students to scamper for safety after learning activities in the school were disrupted.

Photos seen by Viral Tea showed that the plane had punched a hole into the wall of one of the classrooms, triggering a panic that drew the attention of one of the first responders.

The pilot and the instructor, who were gravely injured, were rushed to Nanyuki Cottage Hospital. Fortunately, no student was injured during the incident.

Light Aircraft With 2 Occupants Crash Lands At Kisumu Airport

The Kenya Airports Authority on Thursday, June 8 confirmed that a light aircraft crash landed at Kisumu International Airport.

In a statement, the authority noted that the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing after its landing gear failed.

The aircraft in addition had two occupants, reportedly a trainee pilot and his instructor, who survived but were rushed to hospital for precautionary medical attention.

Photos seen by Viral Tea showed the aircraft intact, though leaning on its left-hand side after the emergency landing with its tail partially damaged.

Witnesses reported that the aircraft landed at the airport with a thud despite the two occupants escaping safely from the scene. The plane went around in circles around the airport for hours as locals questioned what could be wrong with it.

Scene after a light aircraft made an emergency landing at Kisumu International Airport on June 8, 2023. /FACEBOOK.EUGENE

When the wheels got stuck airborne, the pilot made rounds, flying low so that the plane could completely exhaust its fuel and not explode on impact when it hit the ground.

During the few hours the aircraft was hovering around the airport, rescue teams had already positioned themselves at the airport ready for any eventualities, in fear that the aircraft would burst into flames upon landing.

Luckily, when landing, the fuel was exhausted, thus preventing a catastrophe. 

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