This archive report was first published on 6 November 2019.
On October 28, a Silverstone Air plane made an emergency landing at Eldoret International Airport after a tyre fell off, forcing the pilot to divert the aircraft from its original destination in Nairobi.
The incident occurred when the plane, which had four passengers on board, was heading to Nairobi from Lodwar. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
Just a month earlier, a plane from the same airline crashed at the Wilson Airport shortly after take-off, skidding off the runway. Passengers and crew were safely disembarked as authorities assessed the situation.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has confirmed that investigations into the incidents are underway, with an audit inspection of the local airline currently in progress.
According to the KCAA Director General, Capt. Gilbert Kibe, the audit is being performed to determine the level of compliance with current Civil Aviation regulations and the airline's own company-approved manuals and procedures.
Meanwhile, the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has urged its citizens to be cautious when booking local flights, citing concerns about the lack of security arrangements at Wilson Airport, which serves domestic flights.
“If you plan to charter a private aircraft, check with the company’s Safety Pilot about the condition of the aircraft and runways to be used. If the company has no Safety Pilot, find another company that does,” the FCO advised.
