AMREF confirms six fatalities in Mwihoko plane crash

By Newsflash Writer

Six people, including four AMREF medical personnel, were confirmed dead on Wednesday, August 7, after a light aircraft operated by AMREF Flying Doctors crashed into a residential area in Mwihoko, Githurai, Kiambu County.

The tragic accident has sent shockwaves across the country and the regional humanitarian aviation community.

The ill-fated aircraft, a Cessna Citation XLS registered as 5Y-FDM, departed Wilson Airport in Nairobi at 2:17 PM local time, en route to Hargeisa, Somalia. Just three minutes after takeoff, the aircraft lost both radar and radio contact and went down under unclear circumstances.

In an official statement, AMREF Flying Doctors confirmed the crash and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life. “Our immediate focus is on the safety and well-being of those on board and providing full support to their families and colleagues,” said Stephen Gitau, CEO and Accountable Manager of AMREF Flying Doctors.

Gitau added that the organization is cooperating fully with relevant aviation authorities and emergency response teams to uncover the cause of the crash. He urged the public to refrain from speculation and await verified information, which would be provided through AMREF’s official channels.

Medical crew, civilians among the dead

According to Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula, all four occupants of the aircraft—two doctors and two nurses—died in the crash. Additionally, two civilians on the ground were killed when the plane came down and destroyed a building in the densely populated neighborhood. At least two others sustained injuries and were rushed to local hospitals for treatment.

Wafula confirmed that a multi-agency response team, including the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and National Police Service, was immediately deployed to the scene. Eyewitnesses said the military and police personnel moved swiftly to cordon off the area, launch recovery operations, and extinguish a fire that broke out shortly after impact.

Videos and photos circulating online showed dramatic scenes of emergency responders battling flames and sifting through wreckage as residents gathered in shock. Witnesses reported that the aircraft was flying unusually low before hitting the ground with a loud crash and bursting into flames.

“We just heard a loud bang and rushed out. The plane had crashed into an empty building, and a huge fire broke out,” said Josephine Muthoni, a Mwihoko resident who lives just 200 meters from the crash site.

Investigations underway as Mwihoko grieves

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed that the aircraft lost contact with radar shortly after takeoff and crashed moments later. The Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID) has since launched a formal probe into the incident to determine what went wrong.

“The aircraft had four crew and medical personnel on board. It disappeared from radar less than five minutes after departure,” KCAA said in a brief statement. Authorities are now analyzing flight data and cockpit recordings to understand the sequence of events that led to the fatal crash.

The crash site is in Mwihoko, a residential neighborhood located along the border of Nairobi and Kiambu counties. Once a semi-rural outpost, Mwihoko has developed rapidly in recent years into a densely populated middle- and lower-income suburb known for its mix of apartment buildings, stand-alone homes, and small businesses. Its name, derived from the Kikuyu word for “hope” or “recovery,” now takes on a tragic irony in the wake of the disaster.

Local leaders expressed concern over the increasing vulnerability of residential areas near busy flight paths. While Mwihoko’s proximity to Wilson Airport and other aviation facilities has fueled its growth, Wednesday’s crash raises questions about safety, air traffic management, and emergency preparedness in urban neighborhoods.

AMREF Flying Doctors, a subsidiary of the African Medical and Research Foundation, has long been a lifeline for emergency medical evacuations and humanitarian missions across East Africa. The organization said it is reeling from the loss of its frontline workers and pledged to support investigations fully while standing by the affected families.

“This is a dark day for the AMREF family and for the country at large,” Gitau said. “We mourn the loss of our colleagues who dedicated their lives to saving others.”

As rescue and recovery efforts continue, the focus now shifts to determining the root cause of the crash and preventing future tragedies. Aviation authorities have sealed off the area and are working with forensic teams and aviation experts to piece together the final moments of the flight.

The full report from the AAID is expected to be released once investigations are complete. Meanwhile, tributes continue to pour in from the medical and aviation communities as Kenya mourns the loss of six lives in one of the most tragic air incidents in recent memory.