Passengers aboard a Silverstone Air flight experienced a tense ordeal when the aircraft lost one of its wheels during takeoff from Lodwar, northwest Kenya, on Monday, October 28. The domestic airline, known for its regional routes, was operating a Dash 8-300 aircraft bound for Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. However, safety concerns prompted the pilot to divert and make an emergency landing at Eldoret International Airport in western Kenya.
According to a statement from Silverstone Air, the incident unfolded shortly after departure. “Our flight Dash 8-300 from Lodwar to Nairobi experienced an incident during takeoff and as a result, lost the number three wheel assembly,” the airline confirmed. They emphasized that passenger and crew safety remained their utmost priority, adding that the decision to land in Eldoret was a precautionary measure to ensure everyone’s well-being.
Despite the harrowing situation, the flight landed safely in Eldoret. No injuries were reported, and all passengers were promptly rebooked on alternative flights to complete their journey to Nairobi.
For Silverstone Air, this marked the second safety-related incident in less than a month. Earlier in October, one of its flights carrying 55 passengers skidded off the runway at Nairobi’s Wilson Airport during takeoff. That incident left nine passengers injured and raised concerns about the airline’s safety protocols.
In response to the recurring safety issues, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) announced a thorough investigation into Silverstone Air’s operations. Gilbert Kibe, the KCAA’s director general, stated, “As per the provision of the Civil Aviation Act No. 21 of 2013, amended in 2016, KCAA is mandated to manage, regulate, and operate a safe, secure, and efficient civil aviation system in Kenya.” He further explained that the ongoing audit would assess the airline’s compliance with aviation regulations and its adherence to approved manuals and procedures.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion among passengers and aviation experts. While Silverstone Air reassured the public of its commitment to safety, these back-to-back occurrences have left some questioning the reliability of Kenya’s domestic air travel industry.
This story is a sobering reminder of the importance of rigorous maintenance and operational checks in aviation. Although no one was harmed in this latest incident, the close calls highlight the need for heightened oversight to prevent potentially catastrophic outcomes.
Elsewhere in the world, similar scares have surfaced. Just days before, a Vietnam Airlines flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Melbourne nearly landed with its wheels up, prompting air traffic controllers to intervene at the last moment. These events underscore the challenges and risks that even seasoned airlines face in ensuring the highest standards of flight safety.
For now, Silverstone Air passengers can take solace in the fact that quick thinking and professional execution by the flight crew ensured a safe outcome in what could have been a far graver situation.
