Wife Recalls Last Phonecall With Kenyan Pilot in Precision Air Plane Crash

Photo collage of Precision Air that plunged into Lake Victoria in Tanzania on Sunday, November 6, 2022.
Photo collage of Precision Air that plunged into Lake Victoria in Tanzania on Sunday, November 6, 2022.
NMG and The Citizen

Peter Omondi Odhiambo, a pilot at Precision Air based in Tanzania, was in contact with his wife, Fiona Ndila and their child hours before the plane plunged into Lake Victoria on Sunday, November 6.

Omondi called his wife at around 5.53 am, inquired about their son, and discussed other personal issues.

The pilot of the ill-fated plane informed the wife that he was scheduled to fly to Bukoba, Tanzania. 

"Safe skies!" the wife told the husband.

Workers use a crane to pull the crashed Precision Air aircraft out of Lake Victoria in Bukoba, Tanzania, on November 8, 2022, after it crashed on November 6, 2022, while trying to land.
Workers use a crane to pull the crashed Precision Air aircraft out of Lake Victoria in Tanzania on November 8, 2022.
NMG

"Thanks, travel safely too," Omondi replied to Ndila, who had planned to travel to Mtito Andei.

Speaking to Nation Africa, the widow added that she received information that a plane had crashed in Lake Victoria. She tried to reach out to the family members, but they did not have information.

However, she was called by Precision Air Human Resource Manager, who informed her that Omondi did not survive. She added that her husband did not know how to swim.

According to a family representative, plans were underway to repatriate the body of the Kenyan pilot to the country. The family added that they received support from both the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments.

"It has been a tough day for the family, we are just about to board the plane to Nairobi as the burial arrangement continues.

"We expect to land in Nairobi tonight. We have had immense support from the Kenyan, Tanzanian government and Precision Air," the family representative stated on Tuesday, November 8.

High Commissioner of Kenya to Tanzania, Ambassador Isaac Njenga, further confirmed that another Kenyan who was in the ill-fated plane was receiving treatment in the neighbouring country. 

"Everyone has been accounted for, and I can confirm that Kenya lost two of its citizens in the plane crash we also have one Kenyan survivor who continues to receive treatment.

"One of the dead Kenyans is the first officer, co-pilot, and the other Kenyan is a lady," Ambassador Njenga disclosed. 

Following the plane crash, President William Ruto joined other world leaders to console the families of those who lost their lives. 

Meanwhile, Tanzanian authorities launched investigations to establish the cause of the plane crash.

Divers during the rescue operation following the Precision Air crash on Sunday November 6, 2022
Divers during the rescue operation following the Precision Air crash on Sunday, November 6, 2022.
The Citizen
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