Speaker Justin Muturi unhurt after chopper emergency landing in Aberdares

NAIROBI: A chopper carrying National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi was forced to make an emergency landing on a farm in the Aberdares Saturday evening causing panic.

However, witnesses said none of those who were on board was injured.

Officials said the helicopter was forced to land because it was time barred and due to poor visibility in the forest which was the flight path.

The pilot had apparently complained he could not see far and it was late which forced him to land on a farm.

Muturi and his team were later picked up by police from Nyandarua and driven to Nairobi.

“The local security officials picked them and drove towards Nairobi where his motorcade picked him on the way. He and his team are ok,” said an official who asked not to be named.

The incident had initially caused panic and speculation online.

Muturi had left St Brigit Girls High School, Kiminini in Trans Nzoia where he had conducted a fundraising event.

Senator Moses Wetangula, Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba were present at the event but did not fly to Nairobi.

Embu County Speaker Kariuki Mate said Muturi was driven to Nairobi after the incident.

“Hon. J.B Muturi is safe and resting at his Nairobi home. Chopper got time barred for Nairobi and landed in Nyandarua,” Mate said in a tweet.

The chopper registration number 5Y-GYM was guarded in the thicket until Sunday morning when it departed to Nairobi.

Villagers milled around the chopper for long after it landed. Most parts of the country are wet due to rains that are experienced. Aberdares is worse especially in evening hours because of the forest there.

Most dignitaries use choppers to travel to various destinations especially in weekends. They use Wilson Airport whose landing time is capped at 6.30 pm.