Editor's Review

His military training helped him survive in the thick wild forest which had elephants strolling close to the wreckage.

Captain (rtd) Solomon Nyanjui has survived three plane crashes. Despite the horrifying experiences, Nyanjui picked himself up and continued with his flying passion.

Captain Nyanjui first made headlines in 2015 after his chopper crashed on the fringes of the Aberdare Ranges.

At that time, he was flying then Nation Media Group Chief Executive Officer Wilfred Kiboro and then Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph.

They made it alive despite the accident.

File image of Captain (rtd) Solomon Nyanjui. PHOTO | COURTESY

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In his second crash, Nyanjui spent eight days in the bush eating wild fruits and leaves. The accident occurred on November 15, 2007, while returning to Nairobi after flying the then Youth Affairs minister Mohammed Kuti off to Isiolo.

Narrating what occurred, the pilot noted that the plane’s engine malfunctioned at about 700ft above the ground.

His military training helped him survive in the thick wild forest which had elephants strolling close to the wreckage.

He survived on three quarter-litre bottle of water and ate leaves as his food.

The pilot was rescued after he traced his phone and sent a text message indicating that he was between Chuka and Meru.

In 2008, Nyanjui made headlines after being caught in another crash while carrying then-Cabinet Minister Noah Wekesa.

The helicopter developed mechanical problems while on air and he managed to make an emergency landing at a farm near Kachibora Police Station in Cherangani Constituency.

Despite the incidents, Nyanjui continued with his flying passion with his last posting being in the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS).