A cloud of grief and shock hangs heavy over Mwihoko, Kiambu County, following a tragic plane crash that claimed six lives on Thursday, August 7.
The crash involved a Cessna Citation air ambulance, registration number 5Y-FDM, operated by AMREF Flying Doctors. The aircraft went down just minutes after taking off from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, en route to Hargeisa, Somalia, on a humanitarian medical mission.
The ill-fated flight took off around 2:30 PM local time and lost both radio and radar contact with Air Traffic Control just three minutes into the journey. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed the aircraft’s disappearance from radar, prompting an immediate emergency response. Tragically, the aircraft crashed into a residential area in Mwihoko, bordering Nairobi, resulting in multiple fatalities and property damage.
On board were two crew members and two medical personnel, all of whom perished in the crash. Additionally, two residents in a house struck by the aircraft also lost their lives, bringing the total number of fatalities to six. Two others sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby health facilities.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a deafening bang, followed by a fireball and thick smoke rising from the crash site. The force of the impact scattered debris across a wide radius, damaging several buildings and shaking the local community to its core.
AMREF Flying Doctors released a statement expressing their sorrow and confirming the deaths of their staff. CEO Stephen Gitau said, “Our focus is on supporting the families of those affected and cooperating with authorities to understand what went wrong.”
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Transport’s Air Accident Investigation Department have both dispatched teams to probe the cause of the crash. Meanwhile, the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, and the Kenya Red Cross were among the first on the scene, working tirelessly to secure the area and assist victims.
As investigations continue, the nation mourns a devastating loss, one that highlights both the heroism of medical missions and the tragic risks involved.
