ZCZC
BFF-55
KENYA-AVIATION-ACCIDENT-LEAD
10 killed in Kenyan plane crash: official
NAIROBI, June 7, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – All 10 passengers of a small plane,
whose wreckage was discovered in central Kenya two days after it went
missing, died in the accident, the airline and government said Thursday.
“Unfortunately, from the reports we are getting there are no survivors.
The families of the passengers and the crew have been notified and as a
ministry, we truly regret this very sad outcome and send out our heartfelt
condolences to the bereaved families,” said Paul Maringa, principal secretary
of the transport ministry.
A surveillance helicopter spotted the wreckage of the plane belonging to
the FlySAX airline near the town of Njabini on the edge of the Aberdares
mountain range early Thursday morning.
Search teams were dispatched to the site.
“It is unfortunate. We did not have survivors,” sayd FlySAX chairman
Charles Wako.
The plane, operated by East African Safari Air Express, took off from the
western town of Kitale in the late afternoon Tuesday.
It disappeared off the radar screens at Nairobi international airport,
its final destination, around 80 minutes later, the owners said in a
statement.
Kenya has been experiencing heavy rains which along with foggy conditions
hampered search efforts.
BSS/AFP/RY/1658