Kenya Airforce Plane Crashes After Leaving Nairobi

UPDATE Tuesday 12: Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has confirmed that four people died after an aircraft crash in Voi.

The four were occupants of a plane that was travelling from Eastleigh in Nairobi headed to Voi where it crash.

It is still not clear what caused the accident that took place at mid-morning.

A Kenya Airforce plane crashed shortly after leaving Nairobi, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has confirmed.

A statement by KDF on Tuesday, January 12, indicated that the aircraft, model Harbin Y-12, was involved in an accident in Voi, Taita Taveta County.

The plane had just left Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi, when the accident occurred in the mid-morning.

"Today, January 12, 2021, mid-morning, a Kenya Air Force aircraft, model Harbin Y-12, crashed in Voi, Taita Taveta County. The aircraft was from Moi Air Base, Eastleigh, Nairobi. Recovery efforts are underway," read the statement from KDF.

Wreckage of a KDF aircraft that crashed in Voi.

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The statement did not mention the number of casualties or information on those aboard the plane. 

Rescue teams including Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials and Kenya Police arrived at the scene shortly after the crash and are currently proceeding with the rescue mission. 

Voi OCPD Benadtine Shari confirmed the incident but it stated that it was not clear how many people were in the plane at the time of the accident.

The crash comes moments after a separate attack in Somalia claimed the lives of at least seven KDF soldiers.

The attack occurred after a KDF vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device (IED). 

It happened between Dhobley and Hosingow and is said to be the second attack on KDF in Lower Juba region within 24 hours.

The aircraft crash occurred barely a month after another light aircraft crash-landed in the Maili  Saba area of Isiolo County. 

There were no casualties during the accident that happened in December 2020 which involved a Cessna plane, registration number 5Y-VBB.  It had four occupants.

KDF officers at an accident scene.

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