Two Killed in Mid-Air Plane Collision

In a devastating incident on Tuesday morning, a student pilot and instructor lost their lives when their aircraft collided with a Safarilink passenger plane over the skies of Nairobi, Kenya. The collision involved Safarilink, a local carrier, and the 99 Flying training school.

Nairobi police spokesperson, Adamson Bungei, confirmed the fatalities via text message to AFP, refraining from providing further details at this time. According to an earlier police report obtained by AFP, the passenger plane made a distress call, requesting to turn back for landing following the mid-air collision.

Safarilink released a statement revealing that their plane, carrying 44 passengers, was en route to Diani along the Kenyan coast when it experienced a loud bang shortly after take-off. Fortunately, all passengers and crew on board the Safarilink aircraft emerged unharmed.

“The relevant agencies have been notified, and together with Safarilink Aviation, are investigating,” the statement read.

The 99 Flying School acknowledged “an incident this morning” in a phone call with AFP but refrained from providing additional information. The training school caters to private, commercial, and airline sectors.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has initiated investigations to determine the cause of this tragic mid-air collision. Safarilink, a carrier that serves 18 destinations in Kenya, neighboring Tanzania, and the popular tourist spot Zanzibar, expressed its condolences for the lives lost in this unfortunate incident.