- A Kenya Forest Service helicopter, registered 5Y-FSK, crashed during takeoff at Kericho Golf Club on Monday, October 12, 2026, injuring all five occupants on board
- Environment Principal Secretary Festus Ng'eno was among those injured when the Airbus H125 helicopter's tail section was severed from the fuselage
- The H125 involved in the crash has been part of the Kenya Forest Service fleet since November 2013 and holds the world altitude record for helicopters
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The Kenya Forest Service helicopter that came down at Kericho Golf Club on Monday, October 12, 2026, is an Airbus Helicopters H125, a high-performance single-engine aircraft registered as 5Y-FSK.
Source: UGC
All five people on board sustained injuries in the incident, among them Environment Principal Secretary Festus Ng'eno.
Photographs from the scene showed extensive structural damage, with the tail section completely separated from the main fuselage.
What Is the Airbus H125?
Originally designated the AS350 B3e before being rebranded in 2015, the H125 is the most advanced model in Airbus Helicopters' Ecureuil family.
The aircraft is built for demanding conditions, with its airframe, rotors, and main rotor head constructed from composite materials that resist corrosion in humid and tropical environments.
The helicopter has a maximum take-off weight of 2,250 kg, which can be extended to 2,370 kg with an internal gross weight kit or up to 2,800 kg when carrying an external load.
Its flat-floored cabin provides 3 m³ of usable space, configurable for passenger transport, cargo operations, or emergency medical services, and can carry one or two pilots alongside up to six passengers.
The aircraft can also lift an external sling load of up to 1,400 kg.
Engine, Performance, and Avionics
Power comes from a single Safran Arriel 2D turboshaft engine, which produces a maximum take-off output of 710 kW (952 shp) and is managed by a dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system with an additional independent backup channel.
The engine gives the H125 a maximum speed of 287 km/h and a range of up to 649 km on standard fuel tanks, with an endurance of just under five hours.
The H125 model holds the world altitude record for a helicopter, having landed on Mount Everest at 8,848 metres.
Its cockpit is equipped with a Garmin G500H TXi touchscreen display and a dual-screen Vehicle and Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD), which monitors key flight parameters and reduces pilot workload.
Kenya Forest Service Use
The Kenya Forest Service acquired the aircraft in November 2013. Since then, it has been deployed across various missions, including aerial patrols, forest and wildlife monitoring, firefighting support, and the transportation of personnel and equipment.
The helicopter's green and white livery reflects the service's conservation mandate.
Aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the Kericho crash.
The H125 is one of the most widely operated helicopters in the world, with more than 5,350 units currently in service globally and over 37 million flight hours accumulated across its operational history.
Investigators are expected to provide further updates on both the condition of those injured and the circumstances surrounding the incident as the inquiry progresses.
Video of the crash aftermath emerges
In other news, an eyewitness video captured the aftermath of a Kenya Forest Service helicopter crash at Kericho Golf Club on Monday, October 12, showing distressed residents screaming as they gathered around the overturned aircraft.
Some bystanders were heard expressing shock, while others warned people to keep their distance from the wreckage.
All five occupants survived the crash and were rushed to hospital, with Environment Principal Secretary Festus K. Ng’eno reportedly among those on board and sustaining minor injuries.
The helicopter reportedly crashed while attempting to take off, but authorities had yet to confirm the cause of the incident.
Source: TUKO.co.ke