A pilot escaped death by a whisker after a helicopter crashed at Kericho Golf Club while attempting to take off, leaving the aircraft damaged and prompting an emergency response.
According to eyewitnesses, the helicopter, which was carrying a government Principal Secretary (PS) and other occupants, is suspected to have developed mechanical problems during the attempted take-off.
The aircraft had landed at the golf club earlier in the morning, dropping off the PS and some passengers before proceeding to an undisclosed destination with other occupants.
It later returned to the venue to pick up the PS and the rest of the team. However, the helicopter reportedly struggled to gain momentum despite the pilot running its engines for an extended period.
The prolonged attempt to take off prompted the PS and the other occupants to disembark.
After several attempts, the helicopter eventually lifted off the ground but reportedly came crashing down after reaching an estimated height of three metres.
The impact threw the pilot out of the aircraft, leaving him with injuries. He was subsequently rushed to hospital for treatment.
By the time of publication, the damaged helicopter was still at the crash scene as the circumstances surrounding the incident remained unclear.
Meanwhile, the PS and the accompanying team were driven to Kisumu, where they boarded another flight to Nairobi.
The suspected mechanical failure has yet to be officially confirmed, and further details regarding the cause of the crash were not immediately available.
