Weather, poor visibility blamed in fatal crash that killed MP Johana Ng’eno- report

A photo of main Wreckage site

A preliminary investigation report has shed light on the final moments of the helicopter crash that killed Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ng’eno and five others in Chepkiep, Mosop Sub-county, Nandi County, on February 28, 2026.

The report, released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department under the Ministry of Roads and Transport, indicates that the aircraft encountered thick fog, drizzle and extremely low visibility shortly before the crash.

According to investigators, the Airbus AS350 B3 Ecureuil helicopter was operating a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) commercial passenger charter flight, carrying one pilot and five passengers.

Flight records show the helicopter departed Wilson Airport in Nairobi at 8:04 am, making several stopovers in Narok, Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu counties, including Emurua Dikirr, Mara Rianta, Endebess and Eldoret Boma airstrip, with earlier legs reported as uneventful.

The aircraft later departed Endebess at 12:43 pm en route to Emurua Dikirr with six people on board.

About 37 minutes into the flight, at around 1:20 pm, the helicopter landed in an open field at Tabolwa in Mosop Sub-county after visibility deteriorated due to fog and drizzle.

Eyewitnesses told investigators the helicopter hovered for about 10 minutes before flying at a low altitude beneath high-voltage power lines and tall trees, eventually landing in an open area.

The report states that the aircraft remained on the ground for about five minutes with its engine running, and none of the occupants disembarked.

At approximately 1:25 pm, the helicopter took off again in poor weather conditions and disappeared into thick fog almost immediately.

“A minute later, locals heard an impact and rushed towards the scene, where they found the helicopter had collided with terrain across a ridge in a forested area about 200 metres from the take-off point,” the report states.

Five occupants died on the spot, while the sole survivor, who sustained serious injuries, succumbed about 30 minutes later despite resuscitation efforts by a trained nurse at the scene.

Investigators established that the helicopter first struck rising terrain before the main rotor blades hit and uprooted two trees at heights of about 3.36 metres and 5 metres above ground level, pointing to a high-energy impact.

The aircraft was destroyed by the force of the crash and a subsequent fire, with debris scattered up to 90 metres from the main impact site.

The report indicates that Instrument Meteorological Conditions prevailed at the time, with visibility dropping below 20 metres and low cloud cover at approximately 1,000 feet above ground level.

A review of aircraft records showed the helicopter had valid maintenance certification, no deferred defects and sufficient fuel, with weight and balance within acceptable limits.

Key components, including the digital engine control unit, engine multifunction display and GPS unit, were recovered and sent to France for further analysis to help determine the cause of the crash.

Autopsies conducted on all six victims confirmed injuries consistent with the crash, while toxicological tests on the pilot are still ongoing at the Government Chemist.

The emergency locator transmitter activated on impact but failed to transmit location data, forcing rescue teams to rely on information from members of the public to locate the crash site.

The report notes that the accident was not survivable and that there was no fire engine response from the local government.

Investigators have recommended that the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority enforce stricter operational and weather-related flight limits for helicopter operators, including clear go/no-go decision-making procedures to reduce accidents linked to poor weather and terrain.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Department said investigations are ongoing, with a final report expected to establish the probable cause of the crash.