At least six people are feared dead after a helicopter crashed and burst into flames in Chepkiep area, Mosop Sub-county, Nandi County, on Saturday evening.
Early reports indicate that the chopper went down at approximately 4:45pm before erupting into flames moments after impact. The identities of those on board had not been officially confirmed by the time of publication.
Unverified reports suggest that Emurua Dikirr Member of Parliament Johanna Ngeno could have been among those on board. However, authorities had not confirmed the passenger manifest.
Also Read
Videos and images shared online show residents rushing to the crash scene in an attempt to rescue any possible survivors, as thick smoke billowed from the wreckage.
Preliminary information indicates that the helicopter bore the registration number 5Y-DSB and is owned by a company based at Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
Data from flight tracking platform Flightradar24 identifies the aircraft as an Airbus Helicopters H125.
Records show that the helicopter departed Nairobi at 11:02am on Saturday, although the time of its landing at the intended destination was not immediately clear.
Available flight data further shows that the aircraft had made two other trips this month. On February 22, 2026, it reportedly departed at 1:32pm from an undisclosed location to an unrecorded destination.
On February 21, it is said to have made a trip from Nairobi to Wilson Airport, departing at 9:32am and landing at 6:16pm.
The helicopter had previously been used by senior government officials. Records indicate it was used by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on September 15, 2025, although it remains unclear whether he has used the aircraft since then.
In April 2022, the same helicopter was reportedly vandalised during chaos that erupted at the burial of businessman Jackson Kibor in Uasin Gishu County.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), stones and other projectiles were hurled at the aircraft, damaging its windscreen.
Police officers and emergency responders cordoned off the crash site in Mosop as investigations commenced. Authorities confirmed that bodies had been recovered from the scene but had yet to be formally identified.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, with aviation authorities expected to issue an official statement once preliminary findings are established.