Police in Nairobi, Kenya, reported that a student pilot and instructor perished on Tuesday after their aircraft crashed with a passenger airliner over the country’s capital.
According to Kenyan police, the mid-air incident between the 99 Flying training school and the local carrier Safarilink happened on Tuesday morning.
Adamson Bungei of the Nairobi police sent AFP a text message confirming the deaths, although he did not elaborate.
An earlier police report seen by AFP said the passenger plane “requested to turn back for landing” after the collision.
In a statement, Safarilink stated that the aircraft, carrying 44 passengers, “experienced a loud bang soon after take-off” as it flew along the Kenyan coast toward Diani.
It added that no one on board the aircraft, including the crew and passengers, was hurt in the collision.
“The relevant agencies have been notified and together with Safarilink Aviation are investigating,” it said.
In a phone conversation with AFP, 99 Flying School acknowledged “an incident this morning,” but they would not provide further details.
According to its website, the training center serves the “private, commercial, and airline sectors.”
The accident’s cause is being investigated, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
