Two French nationals die in air crash

The wreckage of the light aircraft crashed killing two French nationals at Kauro in Samburu East sub county on March 14, 2016. PHOTO | KENNEDY KIMANTHI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Two French nationals died on Monday after their private aircraft crashed near Kauro Airstrip in Samburu County.

The pilot, Creisson Pierre Michel Christian,52, and his co-pilot, Barbier Thiery Fredrick William, 56, were taking off from the airstrip for Nairobi.

The ill-fated plane, registration number FJSCZ and manufactured by NYNJA, crash-landed one kilometre away from the airstrip at around 9am.

Acting Samburu East OCPD Jackson Mulupi said police were informed of the crash by witnesses who heard a loud bang.

Mr Mulupi said on Sunday the two had finished filming a documentary at the Sera Wildlife Conservancy.

The bodies were airlifted to Wilson Airport by a rescue team plane from Nairobi at around 11am.

The police boss said a team of investigators from the Ministry of Transport Air Accident Investigation Department will visit the scene of the accident to look into the cause of the crash.

“We have secured the scene and a team of officers are on the ground guarding the wreckage and waiting for the team,” Mr Mulupi said.