Details of Thomas Tayebwa’s Helicopter Crash: How Chopper Caught Fire Prompting Crash Landing

Sources have now provided more detailed information about the helicopter crash involving Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.

On Saturday, Tayebwa attended the commissioning of the newly constructed Kole-Gulu-Nebbi-Arua 132kV power line by President Museveni, connecting the West Nile sub-region to the national grid.

Eventful Day for Deputy Speaker Tayebwa

After the commissioning, Tayebwa quickly traveled to Bushenyi to attend the giveaway ceremony (Kuhingira) of Edith Ainomugisha and Albert Bagabe. Ainomugisha is the daughter of National Water and Sewerage Corporation Managing Director, Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha, and Woman MP for Bushenyi, Annet Katusiime Mugisha.

As the ceremony ended late, Tayebwa’s convoy hurried to Nyakisharara airfield, where he was scheduled to board a helicopter back to Kampala.

Delay at Nyakisharara Airfield

At the airfield, Tayebwa’s team was informed that it was too late for the chopper to fly due to the lack of night vision capabilities. They were advised to stay overnight in Mbarara and depart the next morning.

However, another source revealed that although Tayebwa’s team initially agreed to stay, they were persuaded by Barak Orland, CEO of BAR Aviation, who assured them he could safely fly them to Kampala despite the nighttime conditions.

Mid-Flight Emergency

The team boarded another helicopter, but during the flight, fire was seen coming from the cockpit, causing panic among the passengers. The pilot made the critical decision to crash-land the helicopter, after which Tayebwa’s security team quickly engaged in rescuing all aboard.

Despite the scare, all passengers, including Deputy Speaker Tayebwa, are reported to be fine, suffering only minor injuries. The fire is said to have resulted from a technical glitch in the helicopter.

Thankfully, swift action by the pilot and security team ensured that everyone survived with minimal injuries.