Transport CS James Macharia on Wednesday, November 20, released a report on the investigation of a helicopter crash that happened in Lake Nakuru on October 21, 2017, at 6.37 am, killing all its occupants.
Nation Media Group, while referring to the report, revealed that the Flex Air Limited helicopter type AS 350 B3, registration 5Y-NMJ was transporting the communications team of Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika to a campaign rally.
At the time of the accident, the copter had four passengers on board and the pilot, bringing the total to five.
The toxicology report released by CS Macharia revealed that the pilot was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
According to the report, the helicopter “collided with the water surface due to loss of situation awareness by the pilot, who was under the influence of alcohol as depicted from the toxicology results”.
"The pilot, Captain Apollo Malowa, allegedly failed to recognise the loss of altitude, excessive banking to the left and obstacle proximity from the aircraft," added the report.
KWS and Kenya Navy divers embarked on a retrieval search which helped recovered three out of the five bodies of the passengers.
Bodies of Captain Malowa, Veronicah Muthoni and Anthony Kipyegon were retrieved after 25 days of searching, but those of Sam Gitau and John Mapozi, both members of Ms Kihika’s communication team, were never found.
“It took more than 25 days to locate and retrieve the wreckage of the helicopter and recover three bodies of persons on board. The search for two other bodies on board the helicopter was however unsuccessful even after the search was extended for several days later,” stated CS Macharia.
During the burial of the late pilot, his mother described him as a hardworking, disciplined and honest young man who had a bright future ahead.
