The identity of the pilot flying the ill-fated helicopter that claimed the life of Emurua Dikir Constituency MP Hon. Johana Ng’eno and four others has been confirmed.
According to sources, the pilot was George Were, a retired military officer. George Were served in the Kenya Air Force before transitioning to a post-service career as a licensed civilian pilot.
Reports indicate that he was scheduled to retire this coming September, capping a remarkable career in aviation.
George Were was among six people who died on Saturday afternoon when a Eurocopter 350 helicopter, registered as 5Y-DSB and operated by Youth Aviation Ltd, crashed in the Chepkiep area of Mosop Constituency, Nandi County.
The aircraft had departed Wilson Airport in Nairobi at 11:02 a.m. and was forced to make an emergency landing around 4:45 p.m. amid heavy rainfall and poor visibility. The helicopter reportedly burst into flames upon impact.
Tragically, there were no survivors. All passengers and crew onboard lost their lives in the devastating crash.
The incident has sent shockwaves across the country, with many mourning the sudden loss of the MP and other victims.
Authorities have launched investigations into the accident to establish the exact cause of the crash. Meanwhile, tributes continue to pour in for Hon. Ng’eno and the other victims.