KIAMBU, Kenya — Investigators probing Thursday’s fatal AMREF Flying Doctors plane crash in Mwihoko, Githurai, have found the aircraft’s black box — a key piece of equipment that could reveal exactly what went wrong.
According to Githurai Assistant County Commissioner Charity Gatobu, the black box was recovered by the Disaster Response Team during recovery operations.
“We hope the relevant authorities will get to the bottom of the matter, as we continue to clear out any remaining parts of the plane and rubble,” Gatobu said.
The Cessna Citation XLS went down shortly after takeoff from Wilson Airport, killing all four on board and two people on the ground. Two others sustained serious injuries.
Coordinated Rescue and Recovery Efforts
The Kiambu County Government has been leading emergency response efforts, working alongside Kenya Red Cross, AMREF, and military units to clear debris, secure the crash site, and recover hazardous materials.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi, who visited the site and met affected families, expressed condolences and pledged immediate county compensation for the 22 households whose homes and property were damaged.
“We will meet Monday with the relevant members to make sure that those affected are all taken care of after this tragic event,” Wamatangi said. “We will also work with AMREF to make sure compensation is ready.”
The county is also providing medicines for the injured and psychosocial support for residents shaken by the crash.
Quick Action Credited with Preventing Greater Disaster
Githurai Municipality Manager Elijah Ndungu praised emergency teams for acting quickly to contain the blaze.
“If it wasn’t for you, the whole estate would have been razed by the flames,” Ndungu said.
Many of the firefighters involved had recently completed a yearlong urban search and rescue training with the Polish Centre for International Aid — a program that officials say helped make Thursday’s coordinated response possible.
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With the black box recovered, aviation experts will now analyze flight data and cockpit recordings to determine the cause of the crash. Findings are expected to play a critical role in preventing similar tragedies in the future.
For Mwihoko residents, though, the focus remains on healing — and rebuilding what was lost in a disaster that shook the community to its core.
