Zambians injured in Kenya chopper crash

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Investigators at the scene of the helicopter crash/CFM

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 5 – Two Zambian nationals are nursing serious injuries in hospital after a chopper they were flying in crash-landed and burst into flames at the Wilson Airport in Nairobi on Sunday.

Witnesses say the chopper was taking off when it came down a few seconds later and exploded into flames.

“I just saw the chopper drop and burst into a ball of flames before the rescue operation started,” said a private security guard at the busy airport.

Police said one of the Zambians is the owner of the ill-fated aircraft.

“Preliminary findings show the chopper developed mechanical problems immediately after taking off,” said Airport CID boss Joseph Ngisa.

The chopper is said to have come from Juba, South Sudan and had made a stop-over at the busy airport.

“I understand they were headed for Tanzania,” he said.

Cabinet Minister George Saitoti, his assistant Orwa Ojode their bodyguards, the pilot and co-pilot of the police helicopter that they were travelling in were killed in a helicopter crash on June 10, this year at Kibiku forest within Ngong.

The crash occurred at about 8.30am soon after the helicopter took off from Wilson Airport.

LABAN WANAMBISI

LABAN WANAMBISI

Laban Wanambisi is a Parliamentary and Political reporter. He joined the Capital Newsteam in 2005. Since then, he has reported on many of the major news events over the years including his first major assignment covering the 2005 National Referendum on the Draft Constitution, and several other subsequent key national and international events.

  • muzzafar khan

    It is said that the two fire tenders at Wilson airport had no water to deal with the emergency.The Robinson 44,chopper has been reduced to ashes,except the tail rotor section.;