Six people were killed on Thursday when a light aircraft operated by AMREF Flying Doctors crashed into a residential area in Mwihoko, Githurai 45, on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya.
The Cessna Citation XLS, registered as 5Y-FDM, took off from Wilson Airport at 2:17 p.m. en route to Hargeisa, Somaliland, before it went down approximately 20 kilometers northeast of Nairobi’s central business district.
The aircraft crashed into several residential buildings, sparking fires and damaging homes across a radius of nearly 100 meters.
Media footage released by Citizen TV showed thick black smoke rising from the crash site as crowds gathered and first responders worked to contain the blaze and search for survivors.
Kiambu County Police Commander Maurice Odanga had said two bodies were recovered from the scene.
However, a letter by Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula confirmed that four people on board and two people on the ground were killed in the crash.
While Initial reports suggested that four people were on board, authorities had stated that efforts were ongoing to determine the exact number of occupants and whether residents of the area were also affected.
AMREF Flying Doctors said it is fully cooperating with aviation authorities and emergency teams to investigate the incident.
“Our immediate focus is on the safety and well-being of those on board and providing full support to their families and colleagues. We are also offering all necessary assistance to the authorities as investigations continue,” the operators said in a statement.
“Further information will be provided as soon as it is confirmed. We respectfully ask for patience and understanding as we manage this evolving situation with care and accuracy,” they added.
