Private aircraft crashes in aborted take-off, no casualties reported
Manda Bay in Lamu County where a plane crashed during takeoff Tuesday morning. PHOTO | GOOGLEMAPS
A light aircraft crashed in an aborted take-off from a private airstrip Tuesday morning at Manda Point in Manda Bay, Lamu County.
The plane carrying one passenger and a pilot developed mechanical problems shortly after taking off from the airstrip.
Confirming the incident, Manda area Chief Mohamed Yusuf Suleiman said the two people in the private plane survived the daylight crash.
The plane is said to have crashed in the compound of the Manda Conservation and Safaris Hotel.
The accident occurred at around 10.30 am.
“It is true. I received information concerning the plane crash this morning at around 10.30 am. The plane had two people both of which survived. I am yet to know who saved the two,” said Mr Suleiman.
The two are said to be foreign investors who were on holiday in the area.
Lamu County Commissioner Njenga Miiri also confirmed the incident saying the plane was extensively damaged.
“Yes. It’s true. A small private plane crashed as it tried to take off. What I know is that all passengers that were in the plane survived. So far no casualty has been reported,” said Mr Miiri.
Plane-crash incidents are very rare in Lamu. The last incident occurred on September, 10, 2012, when a private aircraft crashed and killed three people, including two Kenyan military personnel.
The plane crashed upon take-off from Manda Naval Base Airstrip and was heading to Kismayu, Somalia.
