The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has confirmed the successful recovery of the black box from the aircraft that crashed near Mwihoko Secondary School in Utawala, Nairobi, on August 7.
Air Accident Investigation Director Fred Kabunge announced this on Friday while addressing the press at the crash site, emphasizing the importance of the flight data recorder in understanding the cause of the accident.
Authorities had appealed to residents to return the device after reports emerged that it was taken from the wreckage by onlookers shortly after the crash.
“The box is important for understanding what exactly happened that led to the crash. We are appealing to whoever has it to return it immediately," a KCAA official had earlier stated.
The light aircraft, a Cessna Citation 560, was reported to be flying to Somalia with two crew members and two medics on board. The crash, which occurred in a residential area near a military base, sparked alarm among local residents.
Emergency responders, including police and military personnel, quickly arrived to secure the scene and control the crowd.
Authorities warned that tampering with or withholding the black box or any evidence related to the crash is illegal and could result in prosecution.
“We understand that people were curious and shocked, but this box belongs in the hands of experts,” one official said, urging cooperation.
Githurai 45 Sub-county Police Commander Maurice Odanga confirmed that aviation and security experts remain at the scene as investigations continue.
No official cause of the crash has been released yet, but the retrieval of the flight data recorder is expected to provide crucial information.
