Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi was among 39 passengers on board a Safarilink aircraft that veered off the runway at Wilson Airport on Friday evening, in an incident that has renewed scrutiny over airport safety standards.
According to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the flight from Kisumu International Airport veered off the runway upon landing at 20:55 hrs. The authority confirmed that all passengers and crew were safe and that no injuries were reported.
“The aircraft remains on site, and recovery efforts are currently underway. Airport operations at Wilson Airport remain normal,” KAA said in a statement.
Senator Osotsi confirmed he was on board and expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal.
“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,” he said.
He praised the pilot’s actions for averting a potentially catastrophic incident.
“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 said.
However, the senator criticized the airport’s emergency response, highlighting the absence of ambulances and a rescue team.
“It is deeply troubling that despite the pilot’s efforts to save lives, there were no immediate rescue operations from the airport management. This level of unpreparedness is unacceptable for an airport of such significance,” he added.
Osotsi linked the incident to longstanding infrastructure concerns, noting that he had recently sought a statement in the Senate regarding safety at Wilson Airport. “The runway was flooded and the lighting system is not functioning properly. Today’s events have only reinforced those concerns,” he said.
The lawmaker called for urgent action, including a temporary closure and comprehensive upgrade of Wilson Airport.
“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 asserted.
He also questioned why the flight was allowed to land despite known challenges, including past flight diversions to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport due to poor conditions. “Flights are often diverted to JKIA in the evening, raising serious questions as to why this particular flight was not redirected,” Osotsi said.
The incident adds to ongoing debates about aviation safety and infrastructure at Wilson Airport, which serves as a major hub for domestic flights in Kenya.
