NAIROBI, Kenya — What was meant to be a lifesaving mission ended in tragedy on Thursday when an AMREF Flying Doctors aircraft crashed into a residential area in Mwihoko, Githurai, killing six people, including medical crew, the pilot, and two residents on the ground.
The Cessna Citation XLS, registration 5Y-FDM, had just taken off from Wilson Airport at 2:17 p.m., heading to Hargeisa, Somaliland, for a medical evacuation.
Barely three minutes into the flight, contact with air traffic control was lost. Moments later, the aircraft went down near a military base and burst into flames.
In a statement, AMREF Flying Doctors CEO Stephen Gitau confirmed the ill-fated flight was on a humanitarian mission.
“We are profoundly saddened by this tragic loss and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of our fallen colleagues and the affected members of the community,” Gitau said. “We are doing everything possible to support them during this incredibly difficult time.”
Efforts to reach the crew via radio and satellite phone failed shortly after takeoff, he added.
Swift Response, Grim Scene
Emergency crews, including the Kenya Police, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), Kiambu County officials, and the Kenya Red Cross, rushed to the crash site. Bystanders recorded video showing the wreckage engulfed in flames, thick black smoke rising above the densely populated neighborhood.
Two people sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospital. The scene was quickly cordoned off as rescue and recovery operations got underway.
Gitau thanked the public and first responders for their swift action: “We are grateful for the swift and generous support.”
The Investigation Ahead
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and air crash investigators are now piecing together what went wrong. Experts will analyse flight data, communications, and debris to determine the cause of the crash.
AMREF Flying Doctors has pledged to provide accurate and timely updates as the investigation continues — but for now, the focus is on supporting families and honoring the lives lost in a mission meant to save others.
