2nd LD Writethru: Pilot killed as light aircraft crashes in Kenya

A Kenyan pilot was killed Sunday when a light aircraft he was flying in crashed on a transmitter in Limuru region, central Kenya, affecting several radio stations signal, officials have confirmed.

A senior police officer in Limuru said the pilot, Capt. Philip Koech, was alone when the fixed wing two engine 5Y-DMS PA-28 plane crashed near Nairobi. Officials at the airport said the pilot had contacted the control tower at 12:55 p.m. as he left Naivasha. .

"We have not established the cause of the incident but investigations are underway," said the officer who sought anonymity.

He said the plane was heading to Wilson Airport, one of the country's busiest airports in Nairobi, from Oserian in Naivasha when the incident happened. It is not clear what caused the crash, but the area was foggy at the time of the incident.

"Television and radio antennas, microwave links and feeder cables have been affected by the crash," Radio Africa CEO Patrick Quarcoo said on Sunday.

"However, our technical team is on site assessing the damage and working on a back-up plan to ensure that we will be back on- air in the affected areas by tomorrow morning," said the CEO.

The latest incident comes a day after another chopper carrying National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi was forced to make an emergency landing on a farm in the Aberdares Saturday evening causing panic. Endi