Three killed in Kenyan plane crash and fire after crash-landing
NAIROBI, Kenya—A tragic incident occurred on Friday in Kenya’s coastal Malindi County when a light aircraft crash-landed, claiming the lives of three individuals on the ground, according to a statement by a local police official.
Among the casualties was a motorcycle taxi driver who lost his life as the plane caught fire upon impact in the town of Kwachocha along the Malindi-Mombasa highway, as reported by Sub-County Police Commander LuckyJoski Mudavadi.
Two more victims, a motorcycle rider and a female passenger, met their untimely demise when debris from the separated wings and tail of the aircraft struck them during the crash into a building.
The pilot and two students who were aboard the plane are currently receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained after they managed to jump out of the aircraft before it plummeted to the ground. Authorities are actively investigating the cause of the tragic accident.
The Kwachocha area is situated near Malindi airport, and tensions have arisen as local residents are in the midst of legal battles over the government’s proposal to expand the airport before resolving land compensation disputes.
Rashid Odhiambo, a legislator in the local county assembly, emphasized the urgency of enforcing safety measures in and around the airport in the wake of this devastating incident.
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“Airport management must prioritize safety not only within the airport premises but also in its surrounding areas,” Odhiambo stressed in his comments to the media.
