Voi, Kenya| A cloud of sorrow hangs over the aviation community and the family of 20-year-old Issa Chaka Barua, a promising young trainee pilot whose dreams were tragically cut short in a fatal plane crash at Ikanga Airstrip in Voi.
Barua, who was training at the Malindi-based Kenya School of Flying, lost his life on March 8, 2025, when the aircraft he was piloting crashed during an attempted landing.
The ill-fated Cessna C152, registration number 5Y-BYQ, went down approximately 500 meters from the runway.
He was on a cross-county flight, a crucial stage in pilot training meant to test a trainee’s ability to navigate independently.
The devastating incident has sent shockwaves through both the aviation community and Barua’s hometown of Mombasa, where preparations are underway to lay him to rest in accordance with Islamic traditions.
His parents, pictured in mourning alongside their beloved son in a widely shared photograph, are inconsolable, grappling with the harsh reality of his sudden demise.
A Promising Future Cut Short
Barua had already earned his Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and was on the path to becoming a fully certified commercial pilot.
His solo flight was part of the rigorous training program required to build flight hours and experience before advancing to the next level of certification.
Friends and mentors describe him as a dedicated, passionate young man with an unquenchable thirst for flying—a young aviator who dreamed of soaring the skies but whose journey was tragically interrupted.
Njeru Mwatho, a close family friend, took to Facebook to express his grief, writing:
“The son of my friend, Issa Barua, has died in the Ikanga plane mishap in Voi on his way to do his solo flying exam. He was a pilot trainee at Kenya School of Flying in Malindi. Two accidents in just three months are too many. Could the authorities please investigate that flying outfit in Malindi? Something is not adding up. My sincere condolences to Chaka Barua and the entire family.”
His words reflect growing concerns over the safety of flight training operations in Kenya, especially following multiple aviation incidents in a short span.
Calls for Investigation into Flight Training Safety
Barua’s tragic death has sparked renewed scrutiny of the Kenya School of Flying and the broader state of flight training safety in the country.
Aviation experts and concerned citizens are now calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
This is the second reported accident involving the school in just three months, raising serious questions about safety protocols, aircraft maintenance, and oversight.
Although initial reports suggest that the crash happened during an attempted landing, the exact cause remains unclear.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and other relevant bodies are expected to conduct a detailed investigation to determine whether human error, mechanical failure, or other factors played a role in the accident.
A Family’s Heartbreak
For Barua’s grieving family, no investigation or explanation can fill the void left by his untimely passing.
His parents, who had nurtured his dreams of becoming a pilot, are now forced to bury their son—one who had the world at his feet but whose destiny was tragically altered in a moment.
As they prepare to lay him to rest in Mombasa today, the community stands with them in mourning, offering prayers and support during this unimaginably painful time.
“May Allah grant them patience (sabr) and strength to endure this loss,” a family friend wrote in a condolence message.
While the aviation sector seeks answers and reforms, Issa Chaka Barua will be remembered not just as a pilot in training, but as a young man whose passion for flying touched the hearts of those around him.
His tragic death serves as a painful reminder of the risks pilots face, even in their earliest days of training, and the need for unwavering commitment to safety in aviation.
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