- Captain Saviemaria Ondego has recounted the most difficult incident in his aviation career since he started working in the aviation sector
- He was appointed to take on the serious responsibility of repatriating the body of the late ODM leader, Raila Odinga
- Captain Ondego said he recognized the deep emotions that gripped the nation at that time and he had to hide his human weakness to carry out his national duty
A famous pilot, who flew the historic flight RAO-001 from India to Kenya, has recounted the events he experienced in the cockpit while the whole world watched.
Source: Twitter
Captain Saviemaria Ondego was in charge of the special journey that brought back the body of the late leader of the ODM party, Raila Odingafrom India to Kenya on Thursday, October 17.
The trip was named RAO-001 instead of KQ203 in honor of Raila.
How Ruabni Ondego overcame his feelings to bring Raila home
It was not an easy experience for Captain Ondego in the cockpit of a Boeing 737-800.
He explained that it was the most extraordinary event in his flying career, but he had to be brave and do his national duty.
“I am Saviemaria Ondego… I am the captain of a Boeing 737-800 plane. It was really a unique situation. Every day in our work is not the same. We woke up as usual for our trip, but this trip had a great weight and responsibility for our nation, which made it not an ordinary trip,” he said.
The gravity of the moment seemed palpable at first, but it became more difficult when he contacted the passengers for initial greetings before the journey began.
He was so overcome with emotion that his voice did not come out.
He had to stop, calm down, and force himself to talk to the passengers who were accompanying Raila’s body.
Despite his voice shaking with emotion, Captain Ondego faced the challenge calmly, was able to make his announcement and later pay his last respects to the late ODM leader.
“Actually when I tried to speak, nothing came out. I had to pull myself away from the microphone, take a breath, and then try again. My voice was shaking a little, but it was important to me, and somehow the words flowed,” he remembered.
Pilot Ondego’s message to Kenyans and the Raila family
Although it was an ordinary day in the sky, this special flight put him in the history books after piloting the most tracked flight in the world.
The captain sent his condolences to Kenyans and the family of the late Raila Odinga.
“For our nation, for all Kenyans, and for the family of Mr. Raila Odinga, we are with them. Our hearts are with them. We love them and we are one as a country as we move forward,” he said.
Jason Mosley, performance manager on the trip, also recounted his personal experience.
He said that although it was a sad situation for the nation, he was proud to be a part of that important operation in the history of Kenya Airways.
“This was a sad and emotional situation for me as an individual. But I knew I had to go, because I was representing Kenya Airways, I was representing the country.
And it was a great honor for me to be the person chosen by the company to accompany this trip and ensure that all procedures are followed, and that Mr. Raila Odinga is returned home safely,” he said.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
