Aviation safety concerns have been reignited after Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi revealed he was among passengers aboard a Safarilink Aviation aircraft that crash-landed at Wilson Airport on Friday evening.
The senator expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal, crediting divine protection and the pilot’s quick thinking for saving lives.
The aircraft, carrying 39 passengers including crew, veered off the runway during landing but all on board escaped unhurt.
Osotsi commended the pilot for demonstrating “remarkable skill and presence of mind,” noting that steering the aircraft off the runway and forcing it to stall likely prevented a catastrophic fire.
However, the senator sharply criticised airport authorities over what he described as a lack of emergency preparedness.
He claimed there were no immediate rescue operations, no ambulance on standby, and no emergency response team present at the scene.
“This level of unpreparedness is unacceptable for an airport of such significance,” he said.
The incident, he added, underscores concerns he had recently raised in the Senate of the Republic of Kenya regarding safety conditions at Wilson Airport. According to Osotsi, the runway was flooded at the time of landing and the airfield lighting system was not functioning properly—issues he said have previously forced flights to divert to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
He questioned why the affected flight was allowed to land under such conditions.
In light of the incident, Osotsi called for the immediate closure of Wilson Airport to allow for comprehensive upgrades to meet international safety standards.
“The safety of Kenyans and all air passengers must never be compromised,” he stated.
The airline said Flight 090 operated by ALS limited from Kisumu to Wilson Airport was involved in a runway excursion incident upon landing at 2055hrs.
“We are relieved to report that all passengers and crew on board are safe. The flight was carrying a total of 34 passengers, 5 crew members.”
“All passengers and crew have been accounted for, and there are no reported serious injuries at this time,” a statement said.
“We have initiated a thorough investigation in collaboration with relevant aviation authorities to determine the cause of the incident.“
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