The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that an engine malfunction was the cause of the tragic helicopter crash on April 18, 2024, which claimed the lives of former Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla and nine other Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
In a statement released on Friday, the ministry said the Bell Huey helicopter KAF 1501 suffered an engine surge—an issue that aligned with multiple witness reports describing a loud bang from the engine compartment.
The surge led to a “complete power loss” followed by a drop in the engine’s Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) and a change in engine noise. RPM is a key indicator of engine performance, measuring both speed and power output.
The Defence Ministry clarified that thorough investigations traced the team’s journey from Wilson Airport to Kainuk, then Chesogon, before heading to the Defence Forces Recruits Training School in Eldoret. It was confirmed that the crew performed all required safety and operational checks prior to takeoff.
Crucially, the investigation ruled out weather conditions, crew coordination, and pilot error as contributing factors.
According to the ministry, “both pilots were mission-ready as outlined in the Flying Order Book (FOB) Standard Operating Procedures.” Additionally, “the crew had sufficient time to conduct Before Flight Checks by the first Line Personnel.”
The aircraft itself had undergone scheduled maintenance between April 2 and April 5, 2024, receiving 25 hours of servicing to ensure maximum safety and performance.
“The Huey Helicopter KAF 1501 was assessed to have had a relatively high level of reliability, having conducted several operational and training missions, including VIP flights. Further, the flight was operated by qualified competent crew,” the ministry added.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Kenya Air Force has reviewed and updated its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as part of efforts to prevent similar incidents in the future.
