This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
On Monday morning, a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) helicopter crashed at Kanyonga in Kithyoko, Masinga Sub-county, resulting in the deaths of two people.
According to eyewitnesses, one of the victims may have been alive in the moments after the crash but did not receive the necessary help from locals due to coronavirus fears.
Ms. Ann Kaluki, an eyewitness, stated that she was going about her business on her farm when she saw a plane flying too low. She then turned to her friend and told her that the plane looked like it was going to crash on them, prompting them to run.
Ms. Kaluki said that the helicopter fell on nearby trees, raising clouds of dust before it crashed. She noted that one pilot was still alive and was asking for help, but locals were afraid of Covid-19 and assumed he would infect them.
A group of young men came running to the scene and asked the locals why they had refused to rescue the pilot since he was alive. They found him still strapped by his seat belt, but speculation on coronavirus and fear of the plane bursting into flames made them fear.
Another eyewitness, a young man, stated that he was on his way home when they saw the helicopter nosedive but a tree caught its fall. He said they rushed to the scene and found one person raising his hand, but they could not assist as they had no idea how to provide first aid.
Machakos County commander Karanja Muiruri said that the incident was reported by the assistant chief Kithyoko Sub-location, Mr. Daniel Muthoka. He applauded the response by the Kenyan army, stating that they came in record time and evacuated the bodies.
The chopper was one of six aircrafts acquired in January from the US. The incident has raised concerns about the response of locals in emergency situations, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
