This archive report was first published on 25 June 2021.
On June 24, 2021, a tragic incident occurred in Kajiado West County when a Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) helicopter crashed, claiming the lives of 10 personnel.
The ill-fated helicopter, a Mi171E, was on a regular exercise when the accident happened after takeoff from the Eastleigh Airbase. According to the area DC, Morekwa Morang'a, the chopper was on a routine mission when the accident occurred.
As reported by the Daily Nation on June 25, 2021, the accident was caused by poor visibility due to dust, which affected the pilot's situational awareness. The Captain, a female pilot, experienced disorientation, leading to a brown-out, which restricted in-flight visibility and resulted in the crash.
Before the crash, the chopper was spotted circling around the Oltinka Shopping Centre in a zigzag manner. A rope was lowered, and 13 soldiers attempted to disembark, but sustained serious injuries in the process.
When the chopper crashed and started to burn, the weapons and ammunition on board resulted in a massive explosion, making it impossible to rescue the remaining soldiers. Unfortunately, 10 personnel lost their lives in the incident.
