The helicopter carrying General Francis Ogolla fueled up twice just hours before it crashed. Defense Ministry investigators discovered the Bell Huey chopper originally took off from Wilson Airport that fatal April day. The crew stopped first at Chesit for gas during their North Rift Counties tour visiting troops.
They refueled again at Kainuk before flying to Cheptulel Boys High School, landing at 1:36 pm. After completing their visit, Ogolla's group left for Eldoret's Defense Forces Recruits Training School around 2 pm. Disaster struck just two minutes later when the helicopter smashed into a community farm called Shamba la Amani. The crash site sat barely 1.3 nautical miles east of the school, with the chopper bursting into flames upon impact.
Locals rushed to help alongside nearby military personnel from Samu Forward Operating Base. They rescued several passengers and put out the fire. Hughes MD 500 helicopters quickly airlifted four survivors to Endo Health Center. Sadly, two died from their injuries, though the remaining survivors made it to Eldoret Regional Hospital. The other ten bodies headed to Nairobi later. Investigators determined engine failure caused the crash, with the helicopter suffering "Category Five Damage" - military speak for destroyed beyond repair.
They refueled again at Kainuk before flying to Cheptulel Boys High School, landing at 1:36 pm. After completing their visit, Ogolla's group left for Eldoret's Defense Forces Recruits Training School around 2 pm. Disaster struck just two minutes later when the helicopter smashed into a community farm called Shamba la Amani. The crash site sat barely 1.3 nautical miles east of the school, with the chopper bursting into flames upon impact.
Locals rushed to help alongside nearby military personnel from Samu Forward Operating Base. They rescued several passengers and put out the fire. Hughes MD 500 helicopters quickly airlifted four survivors to Endo Health Center. Sadly, two died from their injuries, though the remaining survivors made it to Eldoret Regional Hospital. The other ten bodies headed to Nairobi later. Investigators determined engine failure caused the crash, with the helicopter suffering "Category Five Damage" - military speak for destroyed beyond repair.
