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Davis Chirchir has detailed the last known movements of the helicopter that went down shortly after dropping off radar, killing Johana Ngeno and five others.
Speaking to journalists at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the Transport Cabinet Secretary reconstructed the aircraft’s journey from takeoff to the moment communication was lost, offering a minute-by-minute account of its route on the day of the crash.
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According to Chirchir, the helicopter lifted off from Wilson Airport at 11:04am under the command of Captain George Were and touched down at Ngeno’s home in Emurua Dikirr at 11:55am. After a short stop, it departed at 12:20pm for Mara Rianta, arriving nine minutes later. The MP had travelled there to stand with family members and rescue teams searching for two individuals who had drowned the previous Sunday, as part of his constituency engagements.
The helicopter left Mara Rianta at 12:54pm and reached Endebess at 2:07pm. It later proceeded toward Eldoret Airstrip at 2:29pm to refuel, landing at 3:29pm. However, Chirchir clarified that flight records show the aircraft departed Eldoret again at 3:07pm en route to Endebess, where it arrived at 3:41pm.
From Endebess, the chopper took off at 3:43pm and landed in Tabolwa at 4:20pm. Five minutes later, it departed once more. At 4:26pm, just a minute after takeoff, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens, prompting immediate alarm among air traffic controllers and later confirmation that it had crashed.
Chirchir said the Ministry of Transport, through the Air Accident Investigations Department, has launched a formal probe into the incident. Investigators are currently at the crash site examining debris and gathering crucial evidence to piece together what transpired in the helicopter’s final moments.
He noted that the inquiry is being conducted in line with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, assuring the public that the process will be independent and comprehensive. The investigation will examine technical performance, operational decisions, and environmental conditions that may have played a role.
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, as required under global aviation protocols. Authorities hope the findings will clarify what caused the helicopter’s sudden loss from radar and the fatal crash that has plunged the country into mourning.
