By Sandra Blessing
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi was among the 34 passengers and five crew members on board the ALS Limited flight which was involved in a runway excursion at Wilson Airport on Friday evening.
Osotsi wrote on his social media handles, “I thank God for His protection after I came out safely from an aircraft accident at Wilson Airport this evening. I was among the 39 passengers on board the Safarilink flight, including three crew members and the pilot, when the plane crash-landed.
I commend the pilot for his remarkable skill and presence of mind in controlling the aircraft and steering it off the runway, causing it to stall—an action that averted what could have been a catastrophic fire had the plane continued on the runway.”
In a press statement by ALS Limited, they confirmed the incident, saying one of their aircraft was involved in a runway excursion at Wilson Airport.
“We confirm that all passengers and crew on board were unharmed. The safety and well-being of our passengers and staff remain our highest priority,” the statement read in part.
The statement also said the incident was under investigation and that they were cooperating with relevant authorities.
“The incident is currently under investigation and we are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities. We will provide a further update as more information becomes available. We appreciate the patience and understanding of all concerned parties at this time,” read the statement.
Senator Osotsi said he was concerned about the absence of a rescue team at the airport at the time of the incident.
“It is deeply troubling that despite the pilot’s efforts to save lives, there were no immediate rescue operations from the airport management.
There was no ambulance on site and no emergency response team came to our aid. This level of unpreparedness is unacceptable for an airport of such significance,” he wrote.
Osotsi said he recently sought a statement in the Senate regarding safety concerns and deteriorating infrastructure at Wilson Airport.
“This incident comes just days after I sought a statement in the Senate regarding the safety concerns and deteriorating infrastructure at Wilson Airport.
Today’s events have only reinforced those concerns. The runway was flooded and the lighting system is not functioning properly.
It is common knowledge that due to these poor conditions, flights are often diverted to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the evening, raising serious questions as to why this particular flight was not redirected,” he wrote.
He said there is a need to upgrade Wilson Airport to international standards.
“Wilson Airport must be closed and comprehensively upgraded to meet international safety standards before it is allowed to resume full operations. The safety of Kenyans and all air passengers must never be compromised,” he wrote.
