Kenya aviation authorities investigate killing of South Sudanese pilot student

April 9, 2016 (KAMPALA) — Civil aviation authorities in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, said an investigation was being carried out to ascertain how a South Sudanese piloting student was killed on Thursday at Malindi airstrip.

A 19-year old Nyiwalla Peter Lau died on Thursday morning after she was hit by an aircraft’s propeller which they were using for the training. A criminal investigation department official however said investigation was ongoing.

“A concrete [report] will be released once our investigation team has completed the current ongoing investigation,” said Jared Mateche, a Nairobi airport Criminal Investigation Department chief.

Late Nyiwalla who was under piloting training since last year in December 2015 was to complete her training on Thursday and get awarded with piloting certificate.

On Thursday she took off from Malindi airstrip to Mombasa and returned to Malindi successfully, as she was also rated one of the best students.

However, as she was getting got out from the aircraft after landing, she was accidentally hit by the aircraft’s propeller.

Although she was taken to Tawfiq hospital, she died later because of the serious injure. The hospital’s management allegedly blamed her death on delay to rush her to the hospital quickly.

According the family member, Alueth Okwero, told Sudan Tribune on Friday that preparations were underway for flight to airlift the body back to her South Sudan’s home town of Mapel.““””

(ST)