A preliminary report from the National Police Service (NPS) indicates that the helicopter which crashed in Nandi County on Saturday, February 28, was flying at a low altitude before striking trees and going down. The accident claimed the life of Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno and five others.
Speaking on Sunday, March 1, Nandi County Police Commander Samuel Mukuusi confirmed that investigators had recovered key components from the wreckage, including the aircraft’s black box. The device is expected to help experts reconstruct the helicopter’s final moments.
According to Mukuusi, the burnt wreckage was secured as forensic teams collected flight instruments and other technical parts for detailed examination. Investigators will analyse the equipment to determine whether the crash resulted from mechanical failure, pilot error, or poor weather conditions.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir announced that independent crash investigators, working in line with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), will conduct a formal inquiry and release a preliminary report within 30 days. He added that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID), under the State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development, has been on site since the incident and has already launched investigations.
The NPS assured the public that it is securing the crash scene and supporting aviation authorities to ensure a smooth investigation. Officials urged residents to remain calm as inquiries continue.
The helicopter, registration number 5Y-DSB, had departed from Wilson Airport at 11:04am on Saturday. It made several scheduled stops in different towns before radar contact was lost at 4:26pm over Nandi County.
Those who perished in the crash include MP Johana Ng’eno, Kenya Forest Service ranger Amos Kipngetich Rotich, photographer Nick Kosgei, teacher Robert Kipkoech Keter, Narok County Protocol Officer Wycliffe Kiprotich Rono, and Captain George Were.
Reports indicate the helicopter had earlier made an emergency landing in Mosop due to deteriorating weather. Witnesses claim that after waiting briefly for conditions to improve, the pilot attempted to take off again despite heavy mist and intermittent rain. The aircraft reportedly stayed airborne for only a short time before crashing.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo stated that early findings point to adverse weather as a possible cause of the tragedy.
