Missing plane crashed soon after take-off

The aircraft that went missing on Sunday afternoon crashed and burned to ashes a few minutes after take-off.

The remains of the Safari Express Limited aircraft, registration 5Y-SXP, was discovered by rescue teams on Monday at Kogatende in northern Serengeti, 15 miles from the Kenya-Tanzania border.

All the three occupants, two crews and an engineer, died in the accident.

The aircraft engineer has been identified as Mr Derrick Nyale.

“We did not know until much later that he was in the ill-fated aircraft,” said the deceased's nephew Munga Nyale who is also the head of the elite police unit, the Flying Squad.

The aircraft left Mwanza Airport in Tanzania around 7.26pm. However, the Area Control manager at the Jomo Kenyatta International control tower Peter Clever Davor said it lost communication with the radar upon reaching 14,000 feet above the sea level.

CIVIL AVIATION

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said the aircraft Fokker 27 MK 500 was to land at the JKIA at around 8.36pm.

“The aircraft did not arrive as scheduled and an inquiry was sent to Tanzania as set out in the international standards,” read the statement from the KCAA.

Tanzanian authorities were at the scene of the crash as investigations were launched into the incident. The aircraft was completely destroyed.

The Kenya Airports Police Unit (KAPU) commandant Joseph ole Tito on Monday morning confirmed the missing aircraft had been found in Serengeti and that none of the passengers survived.

The Kenya Police Airwing in collaboration with the KCAA conducted the search for the cargo aircraft.

The aircraft was destined for Magadi but was to fly via the JKIA first. Flights from neighbouring countries are supposed to fly through the JKIA, Wilson and Wajir airports for reverse screening.

Plans are also underway to include the Kisumu Airport as another entry point.

The identity of the third person was unclear. The pilot was identified as Captain Kagera.

CAPTURED AIRCRAFT

Meanwhile, a Wilson Airport-based aircraft captured in South Sudan four months ago has not been released.

South Sudan rebels captured a Cessna Grand Caravan registration 5Y-SAV, on June 3. The aircraft is operated by Air Works Ltd.

The pilot, Major (Rtd) Philip Kipkoech Murgor, was later released. Three of the four crew members were released, but the other one is still being held.

The plane was captured when it landed in Yuai, a rebel-controlled area in Northern Jongelei State.