A routine domestic flight in Kenya ended with a dramatic runway excursion when a turboprop aircraft veered off the runway and suffered landing gear collapse after touchdown.
On Mar 20th 2026, a Safarilink Aviation operated de Havilland Canada Dash 8-100, registration 5Y-BXI, flying on behalf of ALS Aircraft Leasing Services, was completing a flight from Kisumu to Wilson Airport.
The aircraft touched down on runway 32 at 20:54 local time but, during the landing roll, veered off the runway. As it left the paved surface, the situation escalated when the left main landing gear and the nose gear collapsed, bringing the aircraft to a stop off the runway.
Despite the severity of the incident, all 39 people on board—35 passengers and 4 crew—escaped without injury. Emergency response teams attended the scene to secure the aircraft and assist occupants.
Kenya’s airport authorities confirmed the runway excursion and stated that the aircraft had veered off after landing. The aircraft, however, sustained substantial damage due to the gear collapse and departure from the runway surface.
Runway excursions remain among the most common types of aviation incidents, often occurring during landing when aircraft are decelerating and directional control is critical. In this case, while the aircraft was significantly damaged, the absence of injuries underscores the effectiveness of safety systems and crew response in protecting those onboard.