Trainee pilot crash-lands in Pallisa
A man uses his phone to record people gathered at the wreckage of the trainer aircraft which crash landed in Pallisa District on December 15, 2021. PHOTOS/ Mudangha Kolyangha
A 24-year-old female trainee pilot from East African Aviation School, formerly Soroti Flying School was Wednesday morning rescued by locals after the aircraft she was flying crash-landed into Nyakwa swamp in Ochulia village, Opete parish, Obutete sub-county in Pallisa District in eastern Uganda.
The trainee identified as Mercy Mulayi, a cadet pilot was rushed to Pallisa Hospital for treatment.
“We saw the plane coming down and thought it was normal. We thought it was just flying around. However, moments later, it crashed into the lake. Four fishermen jumped into the water and swam to where the plane had crashed. They rescued the lady on their backs,” said one of the eye witnesses, Mr Moses Okurutu.
Ms Immaculate Alaso, the North Bukedi police spokesperson said the cadet pilot was rescued with the help of the district police commander ASP Umar Mugerwa.
“At around 8:30am, we received a phone call from one a member of the public that a plane was seen crash-landing in Nyakwa swamp in Ochulia village, Opete parish, Obutete sub-county in Pallisa district. The DPC ASP Mugerwa Umar and his team responded immediately and rescued the victim, Mercy Mulayi, cadet pilot from East African Aviation school formerly Soroti Flying School. She was evacuated to Pallisa General Hospital for medication. She is out of danger. Police is coordinating with the Flying School, Ministry of Works and Transport and Civil Aviation Authority on ways to have the aircraft secured to the dry land,” she said before adding that the cause of the crash-landing is yet to be established.
