New details have emerged about the chopper 5Y-PKI that crashed while attempting to take off with Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen and Kenya Airways Authority (KAA) Chairman Caleb Kositany.
According to reports, the same chopper, 5Y-PKI has faced a similar problem back in August 10, 2020 when the then Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe was using the chopper on official duty.
The chopper 5Y-PKI was to fly Kagwe and Health director general Patrick Amoth back to Nairobi when suddenly it failed to take off after developing mechanical problems.
Also Read: Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen Involved In Helicopter Accident
This was during the peak Covid-19 when Kagwe was moving across the country in various counties to ascertain Covid-19 preparedness to ensure awareness and sensitisation of kenyans.
Mutahi Kagwe was then forced to abandon the chopper in Kericho County after the pilot tried to ignite the engine without success. He then used his official car back to Nairobi.
Similarly, Murkomen was using the chopper on official duty in Baringo on Saturday, March 9th when the same chopper, 5Y-PKI crashed to the ground after attempting to take off.
According to witnesses on the ground near the scene of the accident, the plane crashed just after taking off the ground, however, confirmed that the crash was more of a soft landing.
However, fortunately there was no casualties nor injuries that were reported after the incident as Transport CS and KAA chairman were evacuated to safety.
Also Read: Pastor Ng’ang’a Responds To EACC Over Land Grabbing Claims
This also comes a week after a similar incident happened that claimed two lives where another chopper that had been involved in another accident before collided with another passenger aircraft mid air leading to the deaths.
More details are yet to be provided by the relevant authorities as Kenyans raise concerns over the standard of these choppers in the country.