One dead as light plane crashes in Kenya

NAIROBI: One person died on Saturday when a light aircraft crashed in Nairobi's residential estate, injuring three others on board.

Locals gather at the spot of the crashed small aircraft in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Aug. 1, 2009. A small aircraft with four passengers on board crashed in Nairobi on Saturday, leaving one dead, three seriously injuried. [Xinhua]

According to eyewitnesses, the Cessna 206 light aircraft belonging to African Inland Air Service exploded into flames 20 meters near High rise residential estate, leaving three others with severe burns.

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The three injured were rushed to hospital as the police secured the area to prevent the public from tampering with the scene before any investigations were done.

Josephat Kariuki, an area resident, told Xinhua that the plane developed problems while airborne, knocked down an electricity post before crashing into the flat, damaging part of the building.

Kariuki who witnessed the incident said the plane was preparing to land at the Wilson Airport, one of the busiest airports in Eastand Central Africa, before it crash-landed.

Though the destination of the plane and the exact cause of the crash could not be established immediately, occupants of the flat the aircraft crashed into said the impact of the crash shattered the windows, sending everyone into profound shock.

"All over sudden the lights went dim, a loud blast followed, then the sky was immediately covered in smoke. One person died while three others were rushed to Moi Forces Memorial Hospital," Kariuki said.

Other eyewitnesses said the plane lost control hitting electrical power lines. It then bumped into a four-storey flat, sending it into flames before crashing on the open grounds.

"One passenger was badly burnt with a deep cut in the head and was in pain, while the other two had chest pains and burns on most of the lower part of the body," said Margaret Karanja, one of the first residents who rushed to the scene.

She said the plane smoldered, sending thick smoke into the air and in houses, and chocking rescuers who were not deterred from rescuing survivors.

Members of the public who rushed to the scene managed to pull out the pilot and three other people as they frantically poured water and sand on the plane in a bid to put out the fire.

The white-bodied plane with blue stripped wings was reduced to wreckage.