Details are emerging that the two pilots who perished alongside eight passengers in the ill-fated FlySAX light aircraft complained that they didn’t understand that route they were diverted to, leading to the crush.
According to sources quoted by Standard, Captain Barbra Wangeci Kamau and First Officer Jean Mureithi were not conversant with the route, and after they complained to the control centre, the controller at JKIA insisted that they should use the route.
The controller had promised to help them navigate, even as their initial route [through Ngong’] was dismissed, reports indicating that it was due to the ill-equipped Wilson Airport to handle flights.
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The Cessna C208 FlySAX airplane that crashed in Aberdare Forest was initially scheduled to land at the Wilson Airport, but the controller at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) asked the pilots to head there instead.
Conflicting information
The two, who were flying at a height of 11,000 feet above sea level (approximately 3km high), were scheduled to use runway 24 at the JKIA to land.
On Thursday, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Chief Executive Gilbert Kibe dismissed reports that the plane had some mechanical problems even as questions were bound of contradicting information which emerged on Wednesday.
“(The) rumours are very unfortunate… anyone with credible information should forward it to my office with evidence,” he said, adding that the plane had been cleared for airworthiness, including for the ill-fated flight.
He added: “My main problem is why anyone would keep their mouths shut when they know someone’s life is in danger, they should do it (report) in writing.”
Meanwhile, none of the eight passengers and two crew members of FlySax plane that crashed in the Aberdares survived.
FlySax chairman Charles Wako made the sad announcement on Thursday at Weston Hotel in Nairobi as he pleaded for understanding.
The Cessna C208 aircraft, registration number 5Y-CAC, left a Kitale airstrip in Trans-Nzoia County at 4.05pm for Nairobi but lost contact with the control tower at 5.20pm.
The eight passengers were: Ahmed Ali Abdi, Karaba Sailah Waweru Muiga, Khetia Kishani, Matakasakaraia Thamani, Matakatekei Paula, Ngugi George Kinyua, Pinuertorn Ronald and Wafula Robinson.