Student pilot and trainer killed as planes crash in midair over national park

05 March 2024 , 19:48

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Two planes have collided in midair above the Nairobi National Park in Kenya (Image: @tvcnewsnigeria/YouTube)

Two planes have collided in midair above the Nairobi National Park in Kenya, sending the smaller plane crashing in the park and killing a student pilot and trainer.

The bigger plane, a Dash 8 operated by Safarilink Aviation airline had 44 people on board, including five crew members. It was heading to the coastal resort town of Diani when crew reported a loud bang soon after takeoff from Wilson Airport and decided to turn back, the airline reported.

A police report said the Dash 8 collided with a single-engine Cessna 172 operated by 99 Flying School with two people on board, who were in a training session. The planes crashed about 10km (six miles) from the airport.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the accident had taken place at around 10.05am local time (@tvcnewsnigeria/YouTube)

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the accident had taken place at around 10.05am local time (07.05 GMT) today. An investigation has been launched by the KCAA and police into the cause of the accident.

Wilson Airport is a small but very busy airport in the capital that mostly serves domestic flights. There have been a number of accidents over the years involving small aircraft from the airport.

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