NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 13 –One person, a co-pilot, died on Monday while two others sustained burns after a light aircraft conducting a routine locust monitoring exercise crashed in Ndabibi area, Naivasha.
Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner Kisilu Mutua, who went to the scene of the crash, said bad weather may have been the cause.
He said the police service was waiting for relevant authorities to commence investigations and issue a full report on the incident.
Speaking at Naivasha sub-county hospital after visiting those injured, Nakuru County Police Commander Beatrice Kiraguri noted that the plane was going to Lodwar having departed from Wilson Airport in Nairobi before heading to Ethiopia.
“The plane was used in the ongoing spraying of locusts in Northern Kenya and was on its way to Lodwar when it crashed killing one and injuring two others,” she said.
She described the condition of the two survivors as stable adding that plans were underway to transfer them to Nairobi for specialized treatment.
Emergency respondenders said they encountered difficulties accessing the crash scene due to thick vegetation.
Those who sighted the aircraft before it crashed said it made unusual sounds before crashing down.
Joe Ngure, a local resident, said the plane over-flew several farms on three occasions before the accident occurred.
“The plane was producing some loud noise and we knew something was wrong before it crashed in the forest and burst into flames,” he said.