Search teams begin removing bodies from site of plane crash

Kenyan authorities have released the names of the pilot and passengers killed when a small plane crashed north of Nairobi on Tuesday.

Captain Barbra Wangeci Kamau and her First Officer Jean Mureithi last communication with the control tower at JKIA was when the aircraft was about 60 kilometres from its destination. It was due to land at 5pm following the one-hour flight from Kitale. They later lost contact. It is believed they flew into a bad storm.

Captain Kamau was engaged to be married.

The eight passengers have been identified as Mr. Karaba Sailah, Waweru Muiga, Mr. Khetia Kishani, Mr. Matakasakarai Thamani, Mr. Matakatekei Paula, Mr. George Ngugi Kinyua, Mr. Pinuertorn Ronald, Mr. Robinson Wafula and prominent businessman Mr. Ahmed Ali Abdi

The Fly540 CS208 plane, registration number 5Y-CAC, was flying from an airstrip in Kitale in Trans-Nzoia County to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport when it lost contact with the control tower.

Early Thursday aerial search teams spotted the wreckage of the single turboprop engine aircraft, which was carrying eight passengers and two pilots, atop the Aberdare Range, a mountain in central Kenya, said Paul Maringa, principal secretary at the ministry of transport.

Search teams also found the bodies of two of the victims.

The Cessna Caravan plane, operated by local firm FlySax, lost contact with control towers minutes before it was scheduled to land at Jomo Kenyatta International airport while flying from Kitale, a farming town in the west.

He did not give any information on the fate of those who were aboard or the cause of the crash. Images on local television news showed the plane was completely destroyed upon impact.