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A trainee pilot from the Kenya School of Flying died Saturday when their light aircraft crashed near Ikanga Airstrip in Voi, Taita Taveta County.
The pilot, identified as a 20-year-old student and the sole occupant of the plane, was on a training flight that originated in Malindi. The incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. when the aircraft, attempting to land at Ikanga Airstrip, crashed roughly 500 meters short of the runway. Witnesses reported the plane flying erratically, describing "up-and-down" movements before it struck a tree and burst into flames.
According to Taita Taveta County Police Commander Ali Ndiema, the crash site has been secured. Officials from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Unit and the Kenya School of Flying have already initiated investigations. Preliminary information from the Kenya Airports Police Unit indicates that the student pilot held a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and was engaged in a cross-country flight training exercise.
The flight instructor had anticipated the student's return to Malindi by mid-afternoon, following a planned stopover at Tsavo. The crash was reported by a witness. On January 10 in Malindi County, a light aircraft crash-landed near the Malindi-Mombasa highway, killing three people on the ground. Those killed were a motorcycle taxi driver, a passenger, and the passenger's rider. The aircraft caught fire upon impact.
The pilot and two students who were on board sustained injuries but survived. A subsequent crash occurred on January 30 at Kedong Ranch in Naivasha. A Cessna 185 aircraft en route from Nairobi's Wilson Airport to Mbaruk crashed around 5:14 pm, killing the two occupants on board. Emergency responders faced significant challenges accessing the site due to difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions.