Twelve passengers who were on board a light aircraft are feared dead after the plane failed to reach its destination on Monday. The aircraft, whose registration details have not yet been released, was reported missing shortly after take-off.
According to preliminary reports, the plane left Wilson Airport in Nairobi in the morning and was expected to land at a destination in the Rift Valley. However, communication with the control tower was lost mid-flight, and all efforts to trace the aircraft have been ongoing since then.
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority KCAA officials confirmed that a search and rescue team was immediately deployed to locate the missing plane. The operation involves officers from the Kenya Air Force, the Kenya Red Cross, and local authorities in the suspected crash area.
“We lost contact with the aircraft shortly after it left Nairobi. Our teams are on the ground and in the air, conducting a coordinated search,” said a senior aviation official.
Residents in parts of Nakuru and Baringo counties reported seeing a low-flying aircraft followed by what appeared to be smoke in a nearby forested area. However, rescue teams had not confirmed the exact location of the wreckage by press time.
Family members of the passengers gathered anxiously at Wilson Airport, hoping for news of their loved ones. Authorities have asked the public to remain calm as investigations continue.
This incident adds to the growing concern over the safety of small aircraft operating on domestic routes, especially those serving remote regions. Aviation experts have called for stricter safety checks and maintenance standards for light planes used by private and charter companies.
By Newshub