The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) has confirmed that a helicopter carrying its crew crashed on Monday, September 18, in Lamu County.
In a statement seen by The Kenya Times, KDF noted that the Kenya Air Force Huey Helicopter crashed on Monday night while on a night patrol.
According to the defense unit, the plane was carrying its crew and other military personnel in the ongoing operation against militants in the Boni Forest.
“The crew and other military personnel onboard were part of an air surveillance squadron intensifying day and night patrols and surveillance for the on-going operation,” the statement read.
KDF assured the public that investigations were underway to establish the cause of the accident. The number of KDF personnel on the helicopter was not revealed.
According to the communique, KDF has sent a board of inquiry to investigate the crash.
Furthermore, KDF expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
The Huey, also known as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, is an American-made helicopter known for its versatility.
It is widely used by the military across the world as a means of transport in various operations.
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KDF & Lamu Insecurity
The crash came amid heightened terror activities in the Boni Forest Area by suspected Al Shabab militants.
On September 10, several soldiers were killed, and others injured after the vehicle they were traveling in hit an Improvised Explosive Device – IED in Lamu County.
In a statement, KDF confirmed that a troop of soldiers were on a patrol along the Milimani Baure Road in Lamu when the incident took place.
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Earlier in August, suspected terrorists attacked travelers along the Lamu-Witu Road in an incident that left one killed and ten others 10 injured.
Parts of the former North Eastern region have also suffered terror attacks amid fear of Al Shaba insurgence.