Details have emerged divulging that the two pilots in the ill-fated Cessna C208 FlySax aircraft had complained about the route they had been instructed to use for their landing.
Initial reports indicate that the plane had been scheduled to land at the Wilson Airport, but the controller at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport requested the pilots to head there instead.
The controller had cited bad weather as the reason for the drastic change of route adding that Wilson Airport did not have good gadgets to help in navigation.
According to other pilots aware of the incident, Captain Barbra Wangeci Kamau and First Officer Jean Mureithi complained that they were not conversant with the route.
[caption caption="File image of Captain Barbra Wangeci Kamau and First Officer Jean Mureithi"]
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However, the controller assured the two that he would aid them in the navigation.
It is reported that they (pilots) were flying at 11,000 feet and following the change of route had to make a turn to get their way to JKIA through Ruiru and later Utawala and land on runway 24.
An insider source notes that it was after they made the turn towards Aberdare Forest that air controllers lost contact with the plane.
Even as investigations have commenced to find out what caused the crash, rumours had emerged that the airplane had mechanical problems, claims that have been dismissed by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Chief Executive Gilbert Kibe.
Speaking on Thursday, Kibe noted: "(The) rumours are very unfortunate… anyone with credible information should forward it to my office with evidence.
"My main problem is why would anyone keep their mouths shut when they know someone’s life is in danger, they should do it (report) in writing,' he exclaimed as he insisted that the plane had been cleared for airworthiness.
Kibe was responding to allegations that several would-be passengers of the ill-fated aircraft opted out of the flight after reportedly learning that the plane had developed mechanical problems.
All the passengers including the two pilots did not survive the crash and their bodies were transferred to the Lee Funeral Home after officers retrieved them from the site.
[caption caption="File image of the FlySax wreckage"]
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