Turkana residents raise more concerns over air safety
Peter Gitonga/KNA
Turkana County residents have expressed concerns over airlines safety after another flight mishap involving fly 540 on Thursday evening.
Fly 540 airline made an emergency landing at Wilson Airport after a tyre burst during take-off from Lodwar Airstrip.
However, all passengers escaped unhurt. Many residents took to the social media to express growing frustration and fears over their safety while using the flights from Lodwar.
"Kenya Airports Authority must fix Lodwar Airstrip or build an airport outside Lodwar town. It's now risky for passengers to use Lodwar Airstrip & Wilson Airport," Peter Ewalan said.
Another resident Samal Ekal said, "The problem is our airstrip that is rough, full of stones."
"Naona hizi ndege itatufanya maneno one day’’ (these aircraft will one day cause a problem),” warned Joseph Erot.
A Silverstone flight from Lodwar to Nairobi was forced to make an emergency landing at the Eldoret international airport late last month after one of its tyres got off.
"We would like to confirm that earlier today our flight dash 8_300 from Lodwar to Nairobi experienced an accident during takeoff and as a result, lost the number three wheel assembly," the airline said in a statement.
Area leaders among them Turkana north member of parliament Christopher Nakuleu also sought a statement from parliament over safety standards of the flights.
