A student pilot and a flight instructor have died after a small aircraft crashed during a training flight in southern Kenya.
The crash occurred on Friday near wind turbines in Kipeto, a hilly area of Kajiado County, southwest of Nairobi.
Kajiado West Police Commander Maureen Kuto confirmed the incident. She said the two people on board were killed in the crash.
The identities of the victims had not been released at the time of reporting.
Aircraft Crashed Near School Area
The aircraft came down in a dry field close to several schools in the area.
Images from the scene showed the plane had broken into several large pieces after the impact.
Emergency and security personnel were seen around the crash site. Red-and-white tape was also used to restrict access to the area.
A large number of schoolchildren gathered near the scene as authorities began their initial response.
Residents Describe Moments After Crash
Duncan Akaranga, a resident in the area, said the incident caused shock among members of the community.
He expressed concern that the crash occurred close to a school and could have resulted in more casualties.
“We are really shocked because this crash happened next to the school,” Akaranga said.
He noted that the area has several schools and a large number of students.
Poor Visibility Reported
Some witnesses who spoke to the Associated Press said heavy morning mist had reduced visibility around the time of the crash.
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The cause of the crash had not been officially established at the time of reporting.
