- Thirty-nine passengers and crew escaped unhurt after a Safarilink flight crashed at Wilson Airport on March 20
- Senator Vihiga Osotsi praised the pilot’s skill in averting the disaster but condemned the airport’s poor emergency response
- He warned that Wilson’s poor infrastructure and security standards pose serious risks if not addressed quickly
The Vihiga senator has recounted a horrific incident in a Safarilink flight that was heading to Nairobi on Friday evening, March 20.
Source: Facebook
Osotsi was among the 39 passengers of the plane, which was chartered by Safarilink Aviation Ltd to ALS Ltd.
How a pilot avoided tragedy at Wilson Airport
The plane crashed at Wilson Airport, causing an intentional flight of the plane.
Osotsi highlighted the incident, noting that without knowledge and understanding of the plane’s condition, tragedy could have occurred.
“I thank God for his protection after I got out safely from the plane crash at Wilson Airport this evening. I was among the 39 passengers on the Safarilink plane, including three crew members and the pilot, when the plane crashed. I commend the pilot for his amazing skills and presence of mind in controlling the plane and directing it from the runway, causing it to stop, an action that prevented what would have been a serious fire if the plane had continued on the runway,” he said.
The senator criticized the slow response from emergency teams, saying they took longer than expected to act.
Osotsi expressed concern that Wilson Airport continues to lag behind in security measures and emergency preparedness, which is essential in aviation. “It is very unfortunate that despite the efforts of the pilot to save lives, there was no immediate rescue operation from the airport management. There was no ambulance on the spot and no emergency response team came to help us. This level of unpreparedness is unacceptable for an airport of such importance,” he said.
He suggested that part of the problem lies in the infrastructure challenges at the airport.
How flooding at Wilson Airport almost caused an accident
Osotsi said the runway was flooded and the lighting system was ineffective, making it difficult for pilots operating through the airport.
According to him, the lack of urgency in addressing infrastructure issues has resulted in many flights being diverted to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), raising questions as to why this flight was not diverted there.
“This incident comes just a few days after I requested information in the Senate of the Republic of Kenya regarding security concerns and the deterioration of the infrastructure at Wilson Airport. Today’s events have only strengthened those concerns. The runway was full of water and the lighting system was not working properly. It is normal to know that due to these bad conditions, flights are often diverted to JKIA in the evening, raising serious questions about why this flight was not diverted,” he said.
The senator urged the relevant agencies to take immediate action, warning that ignoring the matter is a ticking time bomb.
“Based on this experience, I repeat my call for immediate action. Wilson Airport must be closed and fully upgraded to meet international safety standards before it is allowed to resume full operations. The safety of Kenyans and all air passengers must never be compromised,” he said.
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