KERICHO, Kenya — A Kenya Forest Service (KFS) helicopter crashed while attempting to take off at Kericho Golf Club on Monday afternoon, with all five occupants reportedly escaping without injuries, according to the agency.
The helicopter, registration number 5Y-FSK, lost altitude shortly after take-off and came down before gaining significant height, Kericho County Police Commander Kivindu Kilonzo said.
Environment Principal Secretary Festus K. Ng’eno was reportedly among those aboard the aircraft, although authorities had not issued a detailed account of the passengers by the time of publication.
KFS confirmed to Vivid Voice News that the helicopter belonged to the agency and that all five occupants were safe.
Images obtained by this publication show the green-and-white helicopter lying on a grassy field, with its tail section separated from the main fuselage. Emergency responders and security personnel were at the scene as officers assessed the wreckage.
Kilonzo said further details would be released as investigations progressed. The precise circumstances that led to the crash had not been established.
Conflicting reports on occupants’ condition
Early media reports differed on whether anyone sustained injuries. While KFS told Vivid Voice News that all five occupants escaped unhurt, Citizen Digital reported that several people were injured and taken to hospital. The Standard reported that the occupants were taken for medical attention but said no injuries had been reported.
The discrepancies underline the need for an authoritative account from the relevant agencies as investigations continue.
Heavy rainfall was reported in the area, with some media outlets suggesting that weather conditions may have affected the attempted take-off. However, no official finding had established weather as the cause of the crash.
Kericho crash follows fatal Samburu helicopter accident
The incident comes less than two months after a helicopter crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County on August 19, killing all seven people aboard.
According to a preliminary report released by Kenya’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) on September 18, the Airbus EC130 B4, registration number 5Y-GYM, operated by Lady Lori (Kenya) Limited, struck a protruding rock formation near the mountain’s summit during a low-level manoeuvre.
Also Read: Zimbabwe businessman Wicknell Chivayo and wife killed in helicopter crash
The impact caused the landing-gear assembly to separate, sending the aircraft down the mountainside and over a cliff. The wreckage was destroyed by the impact and a post-crash fire.
The AAID said the investigation into the Samburu accident was ongoing, with the probable cause and any contributing factors still under examination.
The two incidents involved different helicopters and occurred under different circumstances. Investigators are yet to establish what caused the KFS aircraft to crash at Kericho Golf Club.
Further information from KFS, the police and aviation investigators is expected to clarify the circumstances of Monday’s incident.
