One student has been confirmed dead after a light aircraft crash in Ikanga, Voi in Taita Taveta County.
Taita Taveta Police Commander Ali Ndiema confirmed the accident, noting that an aviation student was in a pilot training exercise when the accident happened.
The student, aged 20, was trying to land at the Ikanga Airstrip but crashed just a few metres from the runway.
In videos seen by The Kenya Times, emergency responders were on the ground trying to cordon off the scene.
Rescue teams and security officers also arrived at the scene to conduct further investigations.
Light Aircraft Crash in Voi
A cloud of smoke and fire was seen at the scene before fire responders from the Taita Taveta county government arrived to extinguish the flames.
In other videos shared online, residents were the first to help put out the fire, using spades to pick sand and douse the flames.
Part of the aircraft was defaced after the fire, with residents surrounding the scene.
By the time of publishing, the exact cause of the crash had not been established. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) was yet to issue a statement.
The scene had been cordoned off as emergency teams and police officers worked to piece together the events leading to the crash.
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This incident adds to a series of recent aviation accidents in Kenya in less than two months.
Part Aircraft Incidences
In January this year, two people were confirmed dead after a light aircraft crashed at Kedong Ranch in Naivasha.
According to reports, the duo had boarded the aircraft at Wilson Airport and were travelling to Mbaruk when the accident occurred.
Area police boss Charles Mwai said bad weather and poor terrain in the area hampered rescue operations that were mounted later on going to the night.
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Earlier in the same month, three people died after a light plane crashed and burst into flames in the Kwachocha area of Malindi, Kilifi County.
The accident which happened on the afternoon of Friday, January 10, left other three people sustaining injuries.
The aircraft tragically claimed the lives of a boda boda rider, a pillion passenger, and a bystander.
The aviation authority confirmed the accident, stating that the plane had three people on board who sustained serious injuries.
KCAA stated that the Cessna 172 plane operated by the Kenya Aeronautical College crashed about 2 Kilometers from Malindi airport and had three people on board who sustained serious injuries.
“Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) wishes to confirm that an aircraft registration number 5Y-CDC, crashed 2km from Malindi airport at 1152Z (2.52 p.m),” KCAA said then.
“The aircraft had three people on board who survived and were rushed to the nearest hospital. Meanwhile, regrettably, there were 3 fatalities on the ground. Government agencies are already on site to establish the cause of the accident.”
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