On Thursday, August 7, a light aircraft belonging to a medical charity organization crashed in a residential area on the outskirts of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, resulting in the deaths of 6 people and at least 2 injuries.
According to media reports, the Cessna aircraft took off from Wilson Airport in Nairobi at 2:17 pm local time, with the original destination being Hargeisa, Somalia. However, it crashed unexpectedly in a residential area in Ruiru, Kiambu County.
Henry Wafula, the commissioner of Kiambu County, stated that all 4 people on board perished, including a doctor, a nurse, and a pilot. The crash also claimed the lives of 2 residents in the area, left 2 others severely injured, and caused a building to collapse.
A multi-agency task force comprising the Kenyan Defense Forces and National Police Service has been swiftly deployed to the scene to carry out rescue and aftermath operations. The authorities have sealed off the accident site, with investigations into the cause of the incident currently ongoing.
The Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority reported that the aircraft lost radio and radar communication with air traffic control just three minutes after takeoff.
“The plane was already on fire in the air,” said resident Tasha Wanjira to Agence France-Presse, “then it crashed straight into our neighborhood.”
Amref Flying Doctors, the African air medical service organization to which the aircraft belonged, later confirmed the crash but did not provide further details.
In a statement, the organization’s CEO, Stephen Gitau, said, “Currently, we are working closely with relevant aviation authorities and emergency response teams to fully understand the details of the accident.”
Public records indicate that Amref Flying Doctors is a leading provider of air medical services in Africa, headquartered in Nairobi. Established in 1957, the organization is dedicated to providing emergency medical evacuation services for African nations.