Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi narrowly escaped a plane accident at Wilson Airport on Friday evening, March 20, 2026, raising urgent questions about the airport’s safety measures.
The Senator, who was one of 39 passengers on board, praised the pilot for skillfully steering the aircraft off the runway, preventing what could have been a devastating fire.
In a statement on his official Facebook account, Osotsi recounted the terrifying experience and expressed gratitude for surviving.
“I thank God I am alive after a plane crash-landed at Wilson Airport. I thank God for His protection after I came out safely from an aircraft accident at Wilson Airport this evening. I was among the 39 passengers on board the flight, including three crew members and the pilot, when the plane landed,” he wrote.
He commended the pilot for demonstrating remarkable composure under pressure. “I commend the pilot for his remarkable skill and presence of mind in controlling the aircraft and steering it off the runway, causing it to stall, an action that averted what could have been a catastrophic fire had the plane continued on the runway,” Osotsi added.
However, the Senator raised serious concerns about the airport’s preparedness to handle emergencies. He pointed out the absence of immediate rescue operations and emergency services, highlighting a lack of ambulances on site.
“However, it is deeply troubling that despite the pilot’s efforts to save lives, there were no immediate rescue operations from the airport management,” he said. “This level of unpreparedness is unacceptable for an airport of such significance.”
The incident comes just days after Osotsi had raised safety concerns in the Senate over the deteriorating infrastructure at Wilson Airport. He warned that the issues extend beyond the runway to lighting failures and waterlogging that often force flights to divert to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport during evening hours.
“The runway was flooded and the lighting system is not functioning properly. It is common knowledge that due to these poor conditions, flights are often diverted to JKIA in the evening, raising serious questions as to why this particular flight was not redirected,” he said.
In light of the close call, the Senator reiterated his call for urgent upgrades to the airport.
“In light of this experience, I strongly reiterate my call for urgent action. Wilson Airport must be closed and comprehensively upgraded to meet international safety standards before it is allowed to resume full operations. The safety of Kenyans and all air passengers must never be compromised,” Osotsi concluded.
