Two Planes Collide at Nairobi National Park Leaving Two Dead, 44 Passengers Unharmed

A tragic collision occurred on Tuesday morning near Nairobi National Park, involving a Safari Link Dash 8 aircraft and a Cessna plane.

In the mid-air collision involving two Nairobi-originating aircraft, a Safari Link Dash 8 carrying 39 passengers and 5 crew narrowly avoided tragedy, while the Cessna plane conducting a training session with two individuals onboard tragically crashed within the park, resulting in fatalities. Thankfully, the Dash 8 managed to return safely to Wilson Airport for inspection. No injuries were reported among those aboard the larger aircraft.

However, the incident stresses the pressing need for heightened safety measures and comprehensive investigations. Safarilink Aviation, the operator of the Dash 8, has confirmed the incident and praised their crew's prompt return to the airport for assessment. They further pledge cooperation with authorities in the ongoing investigation to determine the cause of the collision. This event marks the latest in a series of concerning incidents involving planes departing from Wilson Airport, raising serious questions about safety protocols.

“We wish to report that this morning at 9:45 Local Time our flight number 053 with 39 passengers and 5 crew on board headed to Diani experienced a loud bang soon after take-off,” the statement from Safarilink Aviation Limited read in part.

In 2022, a trainee pilot and instructor were safely evacuated after their light aircraft crash-landed at Nairobi National Park. Fortunately, the incident resulted in no serious injuries, with both the trainee pilot and instructor successfully evacuated from the scene. Reports from police and eyewitnesses indicated that the plane went down roughly four minutes after taking off.