Trainee pilot and instructor injured after light aircraft crashes in the Nairobi National Park

A flight instructor and a trainee pilot escaped death narrowly yesterday after a plane they were in crash landed within the Nairobi National Park.

The two sustained serious injuries as they were evacuated and rushed to hospital minutes after the crash.

The aircraft had taken off from Wilson Airport for training sessions when it lost momentum and crashed minutes later.

The student and instructor were later removed from the wreckage with serious wounds. Witnesses said they were in a bad state.

Kenya Airports Police Unit CID boss Joseph Ngisa said they had called experts to establish the cause of the crash.

“We do not know what caused it but those wounded had multiple injuries and were evacuated and rushed to hospital,” said Ngisa.

He said the plane nose-dived into the park as it crashed after an apparent engine failure. It was badly damaged.

Fire engines from the Kenya Airports Authority and County Government rushed to the scene when news of the crash went out.

Officials said those injured had serious wounds and had been rushed to hospital. The plane belongs to Skymax Company, officials said.

The instructor was said to be seasoned. He was taking the student for normal flying sessions when the incident happened.

The scene of the accident is common with such incidents. A number of accidents involving trainee pilots usually occur in the area.

Some of the incidents have in the past been fatal.