Pilot Reveals What Caused Narok Crash

The accident scene on Saturday, October 17, 2020.
The accident scene on Saturday, October 17, 2020.

The pilot of the ill-fated chopper that crashed in Narok on Saturday, October 17, has broken his silence over the incident.

While speaking to The Standard the same day, the pilot, Marc Gross, stated that the crash may have been caused by bad weather and high altitude.

He further noted that he was not harmed in the crash and that neither of his passengers sustained injuries.

"I am okay and there is nothing to worry about. The other occupants are okay too," stated the pilot.

Narok Governor Samuel Tunai at a past press conference in 2014.
Narok Governor Samuel Tunai at a past press conference in 2014.
Capital Group

Gross is an accomplished pilot attached to the Mara Elephant Project where he heads the Rapid Response Unit.

His work involves fending elephants in the region off from established human settlements in an effort to reduce the menacing human-wildlife conflicts.

A video of the crash surfaced online on Saturday evening showing the chopper swirling uncontrollably before ploughing into the ground during take-off.

In the 58-second clip, the chopper attempted to take off towards one direction, but then the fuselage tended to tilt towards the ground.

Tunai survived the crash and was rushed to the hospital together with three other occupants including the pilot.

The county head was travelling to a burial ceremony for the late Paul Lepore at Olenkipejus village in Melili, Narok County when the incident occurred.

Narok Governor after the helicopter he was travelling in crashed on October 17, 2020.
Narok Governor after the helicopter he was travelling in crashed on October 17, 2020.
Twitter

The chopper's rotors were damaged in the crash.

In a statement, the Council of Governors noted that Tunai had survived the crash and that doctors were attending to him.

"We request the people of Narok County to remain calm as the doctors attend to the Governor. The Council of Governors wishes Governor Tunai and the other affected passengers a speedy recovery," read a statement from CoG Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya.

Below is a video of the crash:

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