The student pilot who perished after two planes were involved in a mid-air crash in Nairobi on Tuesday has been laid to rest at Lang’ata cemetery.
Mariam Yusuf Omar was buried on Wednesday after an autopsy was conducted on her body.
Government pathologist Patrick Ndegwa conducted the autopsy at Umash Memorial Service which indicated that Mariam died of multiple force trauma and injuries including broken spine, hands as well as ribs.
Her family described her as a disciplined, dedicated, hardworking, and a promising individual who had a bright future.
Her aviation school, Ninety Nines flying school, termed her a cheerful and bubbly person.
“We are lucky to have experienced your one-of-a-kind personality. Always bubbly and cheerful, we remember you with a smile Mariam,” the institution said in a statement.
Mariam died on the spot alongside her trainer Newtone Omote Mokaya. The body of the pilot is still lying at the Umash Memorial Service awaiting autopsy.
NEWS UPDATE
The pilot who passed in the Wilson Airport incident is Newborn Omote, a young Kisii pilot who had a promising career ahead pic.twitter.com/Wn7qSqZ7U1
— Goddie (@Goddie_Ke) March 6, 2024
Mariam and Mokaya were on a normal a training session that is usually done at Wilson Airport when the collision occurred. Their plane, a Cessna 172 belonging to Ninety Nines flying school, crashed into the Nairobi National Park while the other plane belonging to Safarilink, which was heading to Diani with 44 passengers and 5 crew members, turned back and safely landed at Wilson Airport.
“The crew decided to immediately turn back to Nairobi Wilson Airport for further inspection and assessment and landed safely. There were no casualties reported,” Safarilink said.
Investigations reveal that the CESSNA 172 has been involved in two accidents before. It was registered on August 2, 2018, manufactured in 1976 and has been among the planes used in training of pilots at the school.
A report from the investigation department indicated that the beginning of January 2021 the plane failed to properly land at the Wilson Airport also in October 2020 the same plane had trouble while taking off.
The Air and Accident Department are still conducting further investigations on the Tuesday accident.