Military chopper carrying CDF Ogolla refuelled twice before fatal crash
The report concluded that the crash was a result of engine failure.
The military helicopter crash that killed Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla and 9 other officers happened just minutes after leaving its last stop, a new report has revealed.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Bell UH-1H-II (Huey) Helicopter KAF 1501 had been on a mission to visit military teams operating under Operation Maliza Uhalifu across several counties in the North Rift region.
The aircraft took off from Wilson Airport early on April 18, 2024, and made its first stop at Chesit for refuelling.
The mission continued to Kainuk and Chesogon, where the crew once again refuelled the helicopter.
"They then briefed for the next flight to Kainuk and Chesogon," the report states.
The chopper landed at Cheptulel Boys High School in Chesogon at 1:36 pm, where General Ogolla and other senior officials met troops stationed in the area.
About 30 minutes later, the helicopter took off for the Defence Forces Recruits Training School in Eldoret.
However, within two minutes of departure, it crashed on a farm named Shamba la Amani, just 1.3 nautical miles (2.41 kilometres) away from the school.
The crash site, marked by the coordinates N 01° 17′ 49′′ E 035° 38′ 21′′, was close to a military base, and soldiers from Samu Forward Operating Base, together with local residents, rushed to the scene.
They managed to pull out several injured passengers and put out the fire caused by the crash.
Four survivors were airlifted using Hughes MD 500 helicopters to Endo Health Centre for emergency care.
Sadly, two of them passed away shortly after. The remaining two were later flown to Eldoret Regional Hospital.
All ten bodies of those who died were later transported to Nairobi. The report concluded that the crash was a result of engine failure.
"The helicopter suffered Category Five (Cat 5) Damage (Beyond Economic Repair)," the report added.