A Kenyan commercial pilot turned heads and stole hearts on Monday, August 31, 2026, when she touched down at her former secondary school in a helicopter, giving students a moment they are unlikely to forget.
Captain Alice Kerubo completed her secondary education at Londiani Girls Secondary School in Kericho County and went on to build a career in aviation.
Fifteen years later, she chose to mark that milestone in the most dramatic fashion possible — flying back to her alma mater and landing right before the eyes of the school community.
The sight of a helicopter descending onto school grounds sent students and teachers rushing out in excitement. For many of the girls currently studying at Londiani Girls, the visit was far more than a spectacle.
Video of Kerubo visiting high school with helicopter
Captain Kerubo’s presence gave a human face to what can often feel like an abstract ambition, demonstrating that a girl who once sat in those same classrooms could go on to command an aircraft.
Her journey from a student in the Rift Valley to a licensed commercial pilot reflects the kind of determination and self-belief that many young Kenyans are urged to cultivate but rarely see modelled so vividly.
Images and footage of the visit spread quickly across social media, with many Kenyans celebrating Captain Kerubo’s achievement and praising her decision to return to her roots in such a memorable way.
Are women underrepresented across Africa in aviation?
The story struck a particular chord because aviation remains a field where women are significantly underrepresented across Africa.
Captain Kerubo’s career, and the visibility she chose to bring to it, offered young girls at the school a direct and personal example that their ambitions carry no ceiling.
Her surprise landing at Londiani Girls Secondary School stands as a powerful reminder that success means little if it is not shared and that returning home — even by helicopter — can be the most inspiring thing a role model does.
