(Posted 05th March 2024)
Image from social media sources, showing the damage to the tail of the Dash 8 – @aviationbrk
After receiving clearance for take off from Air Traffic Control at Wilson Airport, Nairobi, did Safarilink flight F2053, destined for Diani / Ukunda and operated by a DHC Dash 8-300 aircraft registered as 5Y-SLK, suffer a mid air collision with a Cessna C172 Skyhawk not long after take off.
The Cessna, registered as 5Y-NNJ, owned and operated by the 99 Flying Club, was reportedly on a training flight and had entered the take off corridor of the Dash 8.
Image taken from social media @aviationbrk
Reports from Nairobi confirmed that both occupants of the Cessna sadly died as the aircraft after the collision crashed to the ground, while the Safarilink Dash 8 managed to return safely to Wilson Airport. All 44 persons on board, 39 passengers and 5 crew, escaped without injuries but were in shock over the incident.
Safarilink immediately issued the following media statement:
ATCNews expresses condolences to the relatives, friends and colleagues of the two Cessna occupants who died in the accident.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority too provided a statement on the accident as follows:
