Two Killed In Plane Crash At Tsavo

A rescue team has been dispatched to the scene of the accident.

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Dec 8, 2022 - 13:25 Updated: Sep 3, 2023 - 00:06
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Two Killed In Plane Crash At Tsavo
The wreckage of a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) aircraft that crashed at the Nanyuki Airstrip on February 12, 2021. /DAILY NATION

Two people have been killed following a plane crash that occurred at the Tsavo National Park on Thursday, December 8.

Speaking to Viral Tea, Salim Bakari, the head of corporate communications at the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed the incident, stating that a rescue team has been dispatched to the scene of the accident.

"We confirm that the accident has happened and the rescue team has been dispatched to the scene of the accident.

An entrance to Tsavo National park. /STANDARD DIGITAL

"Once details are confirmed, the Ministry of Transport's Air Accidents Investigation Department and other relevant agencies shall give out more details," he said.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in a statement seen by Viral Tea also confirmed the crash that occurred in the morning.

"Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has learned with deep sorrow about a fixed-wing aircraft crash that occurred in Kone area along the Tiva in Tsavo East National Park, this morning. 

"The plane, a Cessna 185 registration number 5Y-DHS, belonged to David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT), crashed at around 7.15 hours while on patrol in Huri – the northeastern boundary of the park, regrettably instantly killing both occupants on board," KWS stated.

KWS and DSWT teams are at the scene to investigate the circumstances of the crash. KWS expressed its deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the deceased.

The aircraft was carrying a man and his son at the time of the crash, whose cause was yet to be established by the time of publishing.

It happened three months after four people survived after a light aircraft crash landed at the Nairobi National Park on Wednesday, September 21, shortly after it took off from Wilson Airport.

Lang'ata OCPD Wanjiru Kimani, while confirming the incident, revealed that the aircraft's engine had failed shortly after it departed the busy airport.

The aircraft was a Cessna, registered as 5YBWE, the type of aircraft used in flight training sessions. It belonged to Flight Star Academy, a flying school. A video shared by NTV showed it lying upside down.

A boda boda (motorbike) rider who witnessed the incident revealed that he saw the plane flying dangerously close to the ground, with a belief that it was just carrying out patrols around the park.

"I saw the plane flying at a very low altitude and at first, my passenger and I thought that it was conducting a patrol around the park. As it approached the plane made a sharp turn and overturned, crashing on the ground.

"Shortly after, three passengers onboard managed to get out of the plane and sat on top of it," he recounted.

Scene after a plane crashed at Nairobi National Park following take-off from Wilson Airport on September 21, 2022. /VIRALTEAKE