Three people, including a school head teacher, died on Friday afternoon when a training aircraft crash-landed at a busy roadside in Kwachocha, Malindi.
Naomi Chitsaka Mwagona, the head teacher of Mashamba Primary School, and two boda boda riders were killed in the accident. Kilifi County Police Commander Joseph Ongwae confirmed the fatalities, noting the victims were on the roadside when the crash occurred.
The aircraft, operated by Kenya Aeronautical College, departed Malindi Airport heading to Wilson Airport, Nairobi, but developed mechanical issues mid-flight.
Aboard the plane were a pilot, an instructor, and a student, all of whom escaped with minor injuries and were taken to Twafiq Hospital in Malindi for treatment.
One of the boda boda riders was burnt beyond recognition when the plane exploded on impact. Firefighters from the Kenya Airports Authority and Malindi Municipality, assisted by locals, extinguished the flames.
The crash caused traffic disruptions as crowds gathered at the scene.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has initiated an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the mechanical failure.
