Here is a 300 word article about chopper crashes in Kenya:
Kenya has witnessed several chopper crashes involving its military and civilian aircraft in recent years, raising concerns about the safety and maintenance of the helicopters and the training and preparedness of the pilots and crew.
The latest incident occurred on Monday night, when a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Mi-171E helicopter crashed near the Kenya-Somalia border, killing eight soldiers on board. The helicopter was on a night patrol mission as part of the Operation Amani Boni, which aims to combat terrorism and insecurity in the region¹.
The cause of the crash is still unknown, but the Ministry of Defence said that a commission of inquiry has been dispatched to the scene to investigate the incident. The ministry also expressed its condolences to the families and friends of the fallen soldiers and assured them of its support¹.
This is not the first time that a KDF helicopter has crashed in the area. In September 2023, another KDF Huey helicopter crashed in Lamu County, killing at least eight soldiers. The helicopter was also on a night patrol mission near the border with Somalia, where KDF troops are deployed under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to fight the al-Shabaab terror group².
In July 2023, a KDF Fennec helicopter crashed at Chemolingot Primary School in Tiaty West, injuring two people. The helicopter was accompanying Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to Turkana for an official event. The helicopter hit a tree and crashed while taking off³.
Apart from the military, Kenya has also seen civilian chopper crashes that have claimed the lives of prominent politicians and businessmen. In June 2023, a helicopter carrying Governor Wahome Gakuru of Nyeri County and four others crashed in Aberdare Forest, killing all on board. The helicopter was flying from Nairobi to Nyeri for a meeting⁴.
In October 2022, a helicopter carrying Governor Joyce Laboso of Bomet County and three others crashed in Kericho, killing all on board. The helicopter was flying from Sotik to Kisumu for a meeting⁵.
These chopper crashes have exposed the gaps and challenges in the aviation sector in Kenya, such as poor weather conditions, inadequate infrastructure, human error, and mechanical faults. The authorities and stakeholders need to address these issues and ensure that the helicopters are well maintained and the pilots and crew are well trained and prepared to prevent future accidents.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 11/21/2023
(1) WATCH Chilling Video show how Chopper Crashed in Wajir on Same Day. https://www.msn.com/en-xl/africa/kenya/watch-chilling-video-show-how-chopper-crashed-in-wajir-on-same-day/ar-AA1keMQr.
(2) Several Injured as KDF Chopper Crashes While Taking Off in Wajir. https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/94886-several-injurred-kdf-chopper-crashes-while-taking.
(3) Many Injured as Military Chopper Crashes in Wajir While Taking Off. https://kahawatungu.com/military-chopper-crashes-in-wajir-while-taking-off/.
(4) At least 8 KDF personnel feared dead in Lamu chopper crash - The Star. https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2023-09-19-at-least-8-kdf-personnel-feared-dead-in-lamu-chopper-crash/.
(5) Kenya military chopper crashes, injured officers airlifted to Nairobi .... https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/kenya-military-chopper-crashes-4310148.
(6) A Kenyan military helicopter has crashed near Somalia, and sources say .... https://apnews.com/article/kenya-military-helicopter-crash-0b3a13595f18b4aea659aa7df93c6676.
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