Mario Magonga, Deputy President William Ruto’s pilot and four other Americans died when their plane crashed into Lake Turkana, in Turkana county.
Police noted that their plane came down and killed all five on board near Lobolo in Central Island National Park at 8pm.
“Available information indicates that two helicopters had landed earlier at Lobolo tented camp on the National Park’s Island, however one managed to clear the area safely,” the National Police Service said in a statement.
Rescue team had been sent to the scene of crash to help in recovering the bodies and towing the wreckage
“The cause of the incident is yet to be established and the details of the deceased will be released once the next of kin have been notified.”
A source from KWS revealed to DN that the four tourists were being taken to the central Island before the crash.
10 Facts You Should Know About Chopper Crash Victim Captain Magonga
- He was a close cousin to Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka who hails from Nyamataro, Kisii County.
- At the time of his death, he was working with KIDL Helicopters which is based at Wilson Airport, Nairobi city
- He joined KIDL in March 2017 as a Chief Pilot, (ATP) and a qualified helicopter Instructor trained in the Kenya Defence Forces
- During his career, he had 5500hrs experience on single and multi-engine types
- Under KIDL, he was tasked with flying choppers for different duties such as high-end air travel, filming and photography, tracking, security, medivac, aerial work as well as sport and leisure travel
- Before June 2015, he was working with Tropic Air Kenya, then he left for a career in flying
- He had been given green light to fly VVIP including former US President Barack Obama.
- He is a trained Kenyan soldier who worked with KDF and a son to a former KDF soldier.
- His dad, late Brigadier Magonga of the Kenya Army,Artillery Brigade; was murdered at his home in Mt. Elgon
- Magonga resigned at the rank of a Colonel before he joined his piloting career
