What happened
A flight departing from Moi Air Base in Nairobi was en route to Marsabit to facilitate a mediation process between local communities regarding water and grazing disputes. The aircraft, a twin engine plane, was transporting a group of Kenyan government officials, including two ministers, as part of this diplomatic mission.
During the final approach to Marsabit Airport, the flight encountered significant weather challenges. Low cloud cover resulted in degraded visibility for the crew. While navigating these conditions, the aircraft struck a hillside located a short distance from the airport. The impact resulted in a high number of casualties, with 14 people killed and 3 passengers sustaining serious injuries.
Findings
- The crew was operating in poor visibility caused by low-altitude cloud layers during the approach phase.
- The crash occurred on a slope near the destination airport.