Godfrey Osotsi was among 39 passengers on board a Safarilink aircraft that veered off the runway at Wilson Airport on Friday evening.
According to a statement issued by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the incident occurred at 8:55 p.m. when the aircraft, arriving from Kisumu International Airport, veered off the runway upon landing.
“We wish to confirm that all passengers and crew are safe, with no injuries reported. The aircraft remains on site, and recovery efforts are currently underway. Airport operations at Wilson Airport remain normal,” KAA said in a statement.
In his own account, Senator Osotsi confirmed he was on board the flight and expressed gratitude for surviving the incident.
“I thank God for His protection after I came out safely from an aircraft accident at Wilson Airport this evening. I was among the 39 passengers on board the Safarilink flight, including three crew members and the pilot, when the plane crash-landed,” he said.
He praised the pilot for swift and decisive action that he said helped avert a potential disaster.
“I commend the pilot for his remarkable skill and presence of mind in controlling the aircraft and steering it off the runway, causing it to stall — an action that averted what could have been a catastrophic fire,” Osotsi added.
However, the senator raised concerns over what he described as a lack of emergency response at the airport. He questioned the absence of ambulances and rescue teams, terming it unacceptable for a facility of Wilson Airport’s significance.
“It is deeply troubling that despite the pilot’s efforts to save lives, there were no immediate rescue operations from the airport management. There was no ambulance on site and no emergency response team came to our aid. This level of unpreparedness is unacceptable,” he said.
Osotsi further linked the incident to ongoing concerns about infrastructure and safety at the airport, noting that he had recently sought a statement in the Senate of Kenya regarding the matter.
He pointed to issues such as a flooded runway and a malfunctioning lighting system, warning that the conditions pose a serious risk to passengers.
“This incident comes just days after I raised concerns in the Senate about deteriorating infrastructure at Wilson Airport. Today’s events have only reinforced those concerns,” he said.
The lawmaker called for urgent intervention, including the temporary closure and comprehensive upgrade of the airport to meet international safety standards.
“Wilson Airport must be closed and comprehensively upgraded before it is allowed to resume full operations. The safety of Kenyans and all air passengers must never be compromised,” he stated.
He also questioned why the flight was allowed to land despite known safety challenges, noting that aircraft are often diverted to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) under similar conditions.
“It is common knowledge that due to these poor conditions, flights are often diverted to JKIA in the evening, raising serious questions as to why this particular flight was not redirected,” Osotsi said.
