This archive report was first published on 17 July 2020.
July 17, 2020 - Nairobi, Kenya: A police helicopter crash in Meru last month has been attributed to the pilot's attempt to avoid power cables during an emergency landing.
The incident occurred on a day when four senior police officers were headed to Marsabit for a security meeting.
According to the investigation report compiled by the Air Accidents Investigations department, the helicopter was trying to avoid power cables as it made a second emergency landing.
Chief Investigator of Accidents, Martin Lunami, explained that the helicopter had lifted off from Wilson Airport and made a stop-over in Embu before proceeding to Marsabit.
However, the weather conditions deteriorated, and the pilot had to make an emergency landing. The first landing was successful, but the second attempt ended in a crash as the pilot tried to avoid the power cables.
The helicopter, an Agusta Westland AW119 passenger helicopter, registration 5YNPW, was carrying two pilots and four passengers who were later evacuated from the wreckage with injuries of varying degrees.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of air travel, particularly involving choppers owned or operated by security agencies.
Just a few days ago, two military pilots died when their helicopter crashed at Kithyoko, Masinga area within Machakos County.
