This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
On November 12, 2019, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) suspended Silverstone Air's Dash 8 fleet from flying for 7 days to allow inspection following a recent incident where a wheel detached from a plane during takeoff.
According to KCAA Director General Gilbert Kibe, the suspension is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. 'They cannot operate until we come up with a report on what happened that led to the fall off of the wheel,' Mr. Kibe said.
However, other makes and models of Silverstone planes would operate normally as they have met the required safety standards, Mr. Kibe added.
Following the suspension, Silverstone Air temporarily suspended all its scheduled services, stating that the safety of its passengers, crew, and aircraft remains its highest priority.
It is worth noting that Silverstone Air has been in the limelight following recent mishaps involving their planes. On October 28, 2019, an aircraft belonging to Silverstone Air lost a tire as it took off from Lodwar Airstrip in Turkana County. The plane was forced to land at Eldoret International Airport, and all nine people on board were unhurt.
On October 11, 2019, a Silverstone Air plane crashed on the runway at Wilson Airport in Nairobi. The Lamu-bound airplane had 5 crew members and 50 passengers on board, two of whom were injured during the crash.
