Three bodies of helicopter crash victims recovered from Lake Nakuru

Debris from the helicopter that crashed into Lake Nakuru on Saturday

Three bodies of victims of the Saturday helicopter accident were Monday recovered from Lake Nakuru and ferried in a military ambulance to Umash Mortuary.

The two intact bodies are for Anthony Kipyegon and Pilot Apollo Malowa.

The third (mutilated) is yet to be identified because it is only parts of the abdomen and throat were found.

Search operations are still underway for the other two victims.

Investigators said an analysis of debris from the helicopter that crashed at Lake Nakuru suggests the pilot might have hit a tree first before it tumbled down.

Aircraft investigators who are taking part in the recovery mission said preliminary investigations after analysing parts of the chopper recovered on Sunday at the shores of the lake indicated the pilot hit a tree before crashing into the lake.

“From the recovered parts, it is almost clear the pilot hit something before the crash,” said an investigator on condition of anonymity.

The investigators recovered a briefcase on Sunday belonging to the pilot, a first aid box, ear phones, the plane’s chair, plane’s door, logbook, a pair of shoes and some pieces of the aircraft bearing the writing 5Y. 

Only three bodies of the five on board the ill-fated chopper had been recovered by Monday afternoon. 

Additional reporting by Mercy Kahenda and Sara Otieno