A student pilot and a flight instructor have died after an aircraft operated by the Kenya School of Flying crashed in Kipeto, Kajiado West, on Friday, September 18, 2026. The aircraft had two people on board when it crashed in the hilly Kipeto area during what was reported as a training flight. The student pilot died at the scene, while the instructor was rescued and taken to hospital after sustaining injuries where he later passed away. Kajiado West Sub-County Police Commander Maureen Jepkemboi confirmed the deaths and said preliminary information pointed to poor weather as a possible factor. The bodies of the two victims were taken to the Kajiado County Referral Hospital mortuary pending further procedures.

While police have cited poor weather as a preliminary factor, the circumstances surrounding the crash have not been conclusively established. Reports indicated that mist and reduced visibility were present in the area at the time of the incident. However, determining the official cause of an aircraft accident requires a technical investigation that considers factors such as weather conditions, aircraft condition, flight records and other available evidence. The crash has therefore prompted further investigations into what happened before the aircraft went down.

The Kenya School of Flying is a pilot-training institution based at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, with other flight bases including Malindi and Ukunda. The institution provides training for pilots at different stages of their aviation careers. The latest incident comes as aviation authorities continue to investigate aircraft accidents in Kenya. The Air Accident Investigation Department is responsible for investigating aircraft accidents and incidents to establish their circumstances and contributing factors. Further findings are expected to clarify the sequence of events leading to the Kipeto crash and whether weather, mechanical issues, operational factors or other circumstances played a role.