Man dies while testing plane in Kilifi County
Security personnel at the scene where a light aircraft crashed at Vipingo in Kilifi County on May 2, 2014. PHOTO | GEORGE KIKAMI
What you need to know:
- The accident happened after the deceased took the newly-assembled plane, identified as a Cessna 172, for a test flight from Kijipwa airstrip
A man was killed when the light aircraft he was testing crashed at Vipingo in Kilifi County on Friday afternoon.
Confirming the incident, Kilifi County Commissioner Erastus Ekidor said the man was the only occupant of the plane.
“We can only confirm that the deceased is of African origin but we cannot reveal his identity until the family is informed of his death,” said Mr Ekidor.
The commissioner who was accompanied to the scene by top county security officials including Kilifi OCPD Justine Nyaga and CID boss Ali Samata said that the accident happened after the deceased took the newly-assembled plane, identified as a Cessna 172, for a test flight from Kijipwa airstrip.
“The accident happened just ten minutes after the light aircraft took off. It seemed to have mechanical problems,” added Mr Ekidor. The police have launched investigation to establish exactly what happened.
“We are investigating what might have caused the accident. However, initially it appears that the plane might have developed mechanical problems,” said Mr Nyaga.
