NAIROBI: A student pilot and instructor died on Tuesday in a mid-air collision between a passenger plane and a training aircraft over the Kenyan capital Nairobi, police said.
Authorities confirmed the fatalities resulting from the incident involving local carrier Safarilink and the 99 Flying Training School, which occurred during the morning hours.
Nairobi police spokesperson Adamson Bungei confirmed the incident to AFP, confirming the deaths without elaborating further on the circumstances surrounding the collision.
According to an initial police report obtained by AFP, the passenger plane, operated by Safarilink, “requested to turn back for landing” following the collision.
Mid-Air Collision Between Passenger and Training Planes in Kenya
Safarilink released a statement detailing the sequence of events, stating that the aircraft, carrying 44 passengers, was en route to Diani along the Kenyan coast when it experienced a sudden impact shortly after takeoff. Fortunately, all passengers and crew onboard the Safarilink plane remained unhurt in the accident.
In response to the incident, Safarilink stated that relevant authorities had been notified and, in collaboration with aviation authorities, investigations were underway to ascertain the cause of the collision.
Similarly, the 99 Flying School acknowledged the occurrence of an incident but refrained from providing further details. The training institution, catering to various sectors including private, commercial, and airline training, is well-known within the aviation community.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has initiated investigations into the tragic collision to determine the factors contributing to the accident.
Safarilink, a prominent airline operating in Kenya and neighboring regions, offers flights to 18 destinations, including tourist hotspots like Tanzania and Zanzibar, according to its website.
