CS Murkomen Escapes Unharmed After Baringo Helicopter Crash

On Saturday, March 9, a private helicopter carrying Transport and Roads Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen and Chairman of the Kenya Airways Authority (KAA) Caleb Kositany was involved in an incident during takeoff in the Mwanchon area of Baringo County.

Fortunately, there were no reported injuries. The privately owned Bell 407 bears the registration number 5Y-PKI. CS Murkomen and KAA Chairman Kositany had rented the helicopter for a trip to various locations within the county. Police were called to secure the damaged helicopter whose landing gear malfunctioned. Witnesses described a concerning sequence of events where the helicopter appeared to struggle with stability during takeoff before making a descent.

This incident comes on the heels of a more tragic event that occurred on March 5th. Two helicopters, a Cessna aircraft from Ninety-Nines Flying School and a Dash 8 from Safarilink Aviation Limited, collided within Nairobi Airspace resulting in fatalities. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the accident and is currently investigating its cause.

"Kenya Civil Aviation Authority wishes to confirm that an aircraft accident occurred at 10:05hrs involving a Cessna aircraft belonging to Ninety-Nines Flying School and a Dash 8 belonging to Safarilink Aviation Limited," the Authority stated.

The Ministry of Roads and Transport's Aircraft Accident Investigation Department released a report revealing that the Cessna aircraft from Ninety-Nines Flying School had been involved in two accidents before the Tuesday crash. The aircraft was carrying an instructor and a student at the time of the crash. The Ninety-Nines Flying School expressed their sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those who perished in the Nairobi airspace collision.