This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
On Monday morning, a Kenya Defence Forces chopper crashed in Masinga, Kitui County, killing two soldiers.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the incident, stating that the chopper was on a training flight.
“This was a training flight. Onboard were two pilots who have been evacuated from the crash site,” read the statement from the ministry.
The US-made light attack helicopter gunship MD 530F crashed at about 10 am, and the cause of the crash was not immediately established.
Published on July 13, 2020, the incident occurred just months after the Kenya Army Aviation acquired six US-made light attack helicopter gunships in January 2020.
The helicopters were part of an initial order of 12 light attack and reconnaissance helicopters meant to enhance the firepower of the Kenya Defence Forces in the wake of sustained attacks by Al-Shabaab militants.
The MD 530F planes are part of the $253 million arms deal that Nairobi signed with Washington in May 2017.
