NAIROBI, Kenya — Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has said he is safe after surviving an aircraft incident at Wilson Airport, where a Safarilink Aviation flight he was travelling in veered off the runway during landing.
In a statement issued on Friday evening, Osotsi said he was among 39 passengers on board, alongside three crew members and the pilot, when the aircraft crash-landed after arriving from Kisumu International Airport.
He credited the pilot’s swift action for preventing a potentially serious accident.
“I thank God for His protection after I came out safely from an aircraft accident at Wilson Airport this evening. I was among the 39 passengers on board the Safarilink flight, including three crew members and the pilot, when the plane crash-landed,” he said.
“I commend the pilot for his remarkable skill and presence of mind in controlling the aircraft and steering it off the runway, causing it to stall – an action that averted what could have been a catastrophic fire had the plane continued on the runway.”
Despite the safe outcome, the senator raised concerns about the airport’s emergency preparedness, claiming that immediate rescue services were not available at the scene.
“However, it is deeply troubling that despite the pilot’s efforts to save lives, there were no immediate rescue operations from the airport management. There was no ambulance on site and no emergency response team came to our aid. This level of unpreparedness is unacceptable for an airport of such significance,” he said.
Osotsi linked the incident to issues he had recently raised in the Senate regarding safety and infrastructure at Wilson Airport.
“This incident comes just days after I sought a statement in the Senate of the Republic of Kenya regarding the safety concerns and deteriorating infrastructure at Wilson Airport. Today’s events have only reinforced those concerns. The runway was flooded and the lighting system is not functioning properly. It is common knowledge that due to these poor conditions, flights are often diverted to JKIA in the evening, raising serious questions as to why this particular flight was not redirected,” he said.
The senator called for immediate intervention, including the temporary closure of the airport to allow for comprehensive upgrades.
“In light of this experience, I strongly reiterate my call for urgent action. Wilson Airport must be closed and comprehensively upgraded to meet international safety standards before it is allowed to resume full operations. The safety of Kenyans and all air passengers must never be compromised.”
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed the incident, stating that the aircraft veered off the runway at approximately 2055hrs.
“This evening at 2055HRS an aircraft with thirty nine(39) passengers on board arriving from Kisumu International Airport veered off the runway at Wilson Airport. We wish to confirm that all passengers and crew are safe, with no injuries reported. The aircraft remains on site, and recovery efforts are currently underway,” KAA said.
KAA added that operations at Wilson Airport were not disrupted and reiterated its commitment to maintaining safety standards across all airports.
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“Airport operations at Wilson Airport remains normal. The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) remains fully committed to the highest standards of safety at all our airports.”
The incident comes amid increasing scrutiny of infrastructure at Wilson Airport, one of East Africa’s busiest domestic aviation hubs.
The facility plays a critical role in regional connectivity, particularly for tourism and domestic travel, but has faced periodic concerns over runway conditions, drainage, and operational capacity, especially during heavy rains.
Aviation analysts note that runway excursions, often linked to weather conditions, surface integrity, or braking efficiency, remain among the most common types of aircraft incidents globally, underscoring the importance of robust safety systems and emergency preparedness.
