This archive report was first published on 28 October 2019.
On Monday, a Silverstone Air plane caused panic after one of its rear wheels detached as it took off from Lodwar Airstrip in Turkana County. The incident occurred on a flight from Lodwar to Nairobi, which was carrying four passengers and five crew members.
The plane was forced to land at Eldoret International Airport, where all nine people on board were safely rebooked onto another aircraft operated by Skyward Airline for the remainder of their journey.
According to a statement from Silverstone Air, the plane's number 3-wheel assembly detached during takeoff, prompting the pilot to navigate the plane professionally and ensure the safety of all on board.
The incident comes just two weeks after another Silverstone Air plane crashed at Wilson Airport shortly after takeoff. The plane, a Fokker 50, was leaving Nairobi for Lamu when it skidded off the runway.
Uasin Gishu Police Commander Johnstone Ipara praised the pilot for their professionalism in navigating the plane to safety, despite the panic caused by the detached wheel.
The incident has raised concerns about air safety in Kenya, with many taking to social media to criticize the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority for not taking action against Silverstone Air.
Lawyer Donald B Kipkorir questioned why the regulator was giving Silverstone Air a free pass to operate despite safety concerns, while TV personality Tony Gachoka called for an immediate safety appraisal from the Civil Aviation Authority.
