Nairobi, Kenya: A Safarilink Aviation passenger aircraft veered off the runway while landing at Wilson Airport on Friday night, triggering fresh scrutiny over safety, infrastructure, and emergency preparedness at one of East Africa’s busiest domestic aviation hubs.
The aircraft, operating as Flight 090 from Kisumu to Nairobi, was carrying 39 people onboard, including 34 passengers and five crew members, when the incident occurred at approximately 8:55 PM (2055 hrs). All occupants escaped without injury, authorities confirmed.
According to airline and airport statements, the aircraft, a De Havilland DHC-8-100 (Dash 8) operated by ALS Limited on behalf of Safarilink skidded off the runway during landing and came to a stop on a grassy section near a runway intersection.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) confirmed the runway excursion in an official statement, “An aircraft with thirty nine passengers on board… veered off the runway, all passengers and crew are safe, with no injuries reported.”
The aircraft sustained visible damage, including to its nose section, landing gear, and propeller, though no fire or fatalities occurred.
Initial details point to adverse runway conditions as a contributing factor.
- The runway was reported to be wet due to rain, with reduced visibility at the time of landing
- The aircraft lost directional control during rollout, leading to the excursion
Passengers described a sudden and forceful deviation from the runway, turning what should have been a routine landing into a high-risk situation.
Among those onboard was Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, who described the incident as a “crash-landing” and credited the flight crew for preventing a catastrophe.
“I commend the pilot… for controlling the aircraft and steering it off the runway, causing it to stall an action that averted what could have been a catastrophic fire,” he said.
The manoeuvre likely prevented the aircraft from continuing at speed along the runway, reducing the risk of fire or structural breakup.
Osotsi, speaking as a survivor, said all onboard escaped safely but highlighted the severity of the situation:
“I came out safely from an aircraft accident… I was among the 39 passengers on board.”
Passengers experienced a sudden loss of control during landing, followed by an abrupt stop after the aircraft exited the runway. No serious injuries were reported, and all occupants were safely evacuated.
Despite the safe outcome, the incident has sparked serious concerns over airport safety systems.
Osotsi alleged critical failures in emergency response, stating:
- No ambulance was present
- No immediate rescue or emergency team responded
- Passengers were initially left without assistance
“There was no ambulance on site and no emergency response team came to our aid,” he said.
Kenya’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) has launched a formal probe into the incident.
