By Bonface Mulyungi

A private aircraft crash-landed at Olkiombo Airstrip inside the Maasai Mara National Game Reserve on Monday morning after its nose gear failed to lock down on approach, with all three people onboard escaping unhurt.

According to a police incident report from Nkoilale Police Station in Narok West Sub County, the incident occurred at around 10:00 AM at the airstrip located approximately 60 kilometres west of the base.

The aircraft, registration number 5Y-XCB, had departed from Nairobi when the nose gear failed to engage during landing, causing it to veer off to the right side of the runway. 

The pilot immediately switched off the engine upon ground contact, bringing the plane to a stop approximately 50 metres from the runway.

Onboard were the pilot, Captain Mark Ross, his wife Margaret Mungai, and Claire Clark, a staff member at Serengeti Camp. 

All three are Kenyan citizens and escaped the incident without injuries. 

According to the police report, they subsequently proceeded to Serengeti Camp following the incident.

Kenya Police officers, Tourist Police officers and National Police Reservists visited the scene following the crash.