Kenya: Chopper Crashes Minutes After Dropping Raila Odinga

By Spy Uganda Correspondent 

Kisumu: Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s chopper landed in Kisumu on Sunday evening and crashed moments after dropping him to join President Uhuru Kenyatta who is touring the county.

Odinga’s pilot was taking off when the aircraft landed and no casualties were reported, police said.

“A passenger complained of chest pains but the pilot did not sustain injuries,” a police source said.

The aircraft landed at Kudho Primary School within Usenge village at 4.30 pm.

There was no immediate statement from the Air Accident department in the Transport Ministry.

According to Raila’s spokesperson Dennis Onyango, the helicopter, Bell 407 registration 5Y-PSM, had dropped Raila and four others at the venue and was trying to create space for other choppers when it crashed.

He said the ODM leader was safe and had left the plane by the time of the incident.

“The former PM is safe following an incident in which a chopper that had flown him from Kisumu to Gem in Siaya County crashed shortly after dropping him and his entourage of four people,” Onyango said in a statement.

Onyango said the pilot, and those who were on board escaped with minor injuries.

According to the chopper’s pilot Julius Mwambanga, the helicopter crashed as he tried to take off after dropping Raila who had accompanied President Kenyatta to the area to commission various projects.

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