Wilson Airport in fresh safety storm after plane veers off runway

Wilson Airport is once again under scrutiny following a frightening runway excursion involving a Safarilink flight carrying 39 passengers, among them Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, reigniting long-standing concerns over safety, infrastructure and emergency preparedness at East Africa’s busiest general aviation hub.

The incident, which occurred on Friday evening at approximately 8:55pm, involved a De Havilland Dash 8 aircraft arriving from Kisumu International Airport.

The aircraft veered off the runway upon landing at Wilson Airport, eventually coming to a stop on a grassy section of the airfield.

Despite the severity of the incident, all 39 occupants, 35 passengers and four crew members, escaped without injury.

Shortly after the incident, posting on his Facebook account, Senator Osotsi noted that the ordeal was a near-death experience, thanking God for his survival while also criticising the airport’s emergency response.

"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," Osotsi noted.

He added: “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 said.

The incident comes just days after Senators debated over the state of Wilson Airport.

Last week, Osotsi raised concerns on the floor of the Senate regarding the deteriorating state of Wilson Airport.

In his statement, the senator had sought clarification from the Ministry of Roads and Transport, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) on measures being taken to address infrastructure and safety concerns at the facility.

Among the issues raised were the condition of the runway, drainage systems, rescue and firefighting capabilities, air traffic control systems, and power backup infrastructure.

Osotsi said that the incident on Friday has 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 JKIA in the evening, raising serious questions as to why this particular flight was not redirected,” Osotsi noted.

He called for drastic action, urging the government to close the airport temporarily.

“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 said.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) has since launched a probe into the incident, saying it was a “runway excursion” which is a term used when an aircraft veers off or overruns the runway during landing or takeoff.

Fred Kabunge, Director of Aircraft Accident Investigations, told The Standard that the aircraft involved was a De Havilland Dash 8 operated by Air Leasing Services (ALS) on behalf of Safarilink Aviation.

He said that while no injuries were reported, the aircraft sustained significant damage.

“The aircraft itself sustained damage to its nose landing gear, the left landing gear, propeller blades and the underbelly. The main nose landing gear got detached from the aircraft,” he said.

Kabunge noted that weather conditions at the time may have played a role.

“The surface of the runway was wet with reduced visibility and drizzling. The weather does not cause accidents; it only contributes. At this point, it would be premature to say what exactly led to this occurrence,” said Kabunge.

Under international aviation protocols, a preliminary report is expected within 30 days, while a comprehensive final report could take up to a year.

“Our investigations are conducted to prevent recurrence. The final report will include safety recommendations aimed at improving aviation safety,” he said.

The latest incident adds to a growing list of safety concerns surrounding Wilson Airport, a facility that handles over 120,000 aircraft movements annually, making it one of the busiest in the region.

A recent multi-sectoral technical committee report painted a grim picture of the airport’s condition, citing defective and inadequate infrastructure and electro-mechanical facilities.

Among the issues highlighted were damaged runways, poor drainage systems, leaking water pipes, rusted roofs, and unreliable power backup systems.

The concerns are not new. In March 2024, there was a deadly mid-air collision involving a training aircraft and a passenger plane, killing two pilots and raising serious questions about airspace management.

Perhaps the most alarming are claims of inadequate emergency response capabilities at the airport.

Reports indicate that the police airwing unit tasked with search and rescue operations is non-functional, leaving authorities to rely on ad hoc measures during emergencies.

In the 2024 crash, first responders reportedly took 18 minutes to reach the scene, a delay that could prove fatal in a survivable accident.

Osotsi’s account of Friday’s incident appears to echo these concerns.

“There was no ambulance on site and no emergency response team came to our aid,” he noted.

Beyond infrastructure challenges, Wilson Airport is also grappling with external threats, including the rapid expansion of high-rise buildings along flight paths.

A recent directive by the KCAA required property owners within a 15-kilometre radius of the airport to install aeronautical obstacle lights.

Aviation stakeholders have warned that some developments are in direct violation of flight safety regulations, potentially endangering aircraft during takeoff and landing.

Insiders within the aviation sector have also raised concerns about operational practices, alleging that preferential treatment is sometimes given to larger operators at the expense of smaller aircraft and trainees.

“A student can be on air planning to land, but a big operator will ask the air traffic controller to give them priority,” said one source.

Such practices, they warn, can create confusion and increase the risk of accidents, particularly in an already congested airspace.

According to a police report filed shortly after the incident, the aircraft experienced a hard landing before veering approximately 50 metres off the runway.

“The aircraft was cordoned off awaiting investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department personnel,” the report stated.