Nairobi, August 7, 2025 – Tragedy struck the Mwihoko area of Githurai 45 on Thursday afternoon when a Cessna Citation XLS aircraft operated by Amref Flying Doctors crashed into residential buildings shortly after takeoff from Wilson Airport.
The aircraft, which departed at 2:17 PM en route to Hargeisa, Somaliland, lost radio and radar contact just three minutes into the flight, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
BREAKING: KCAA confirms air ambulance (5Y-FDM) accident near Utawala. Aircraft lost contact at 14:17 after departing Wilson for Hargeisa. 4 POB.
— Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (@CAA_Kenya) August 7, 2025
KDF & Police leading rescue. AAID investigating.
Our deepest condolences to the affected families.#Aviation #Kenya pic.twitter.com/2QP1sg7yug
𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓
— AMREF Flying Doctors (@AMREFFlyingDocs) August 7, 2025
𝐀𝐌𝐑𝐄𝐅 𝐅𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬' 𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 pic.twitter.com/f3FPfN7P8P
Here’s what is known so far:
- Operator and Flight Details
The ill-fated aircraft belonged to Amref Flying Doctors, a medical evacuation service. The organization confirmed the crash in a statement and said they are fully cooperating with aviation authorities and emergency response teams to establish the cause of the incident. - Casualties
2 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage so far. Police say they could either be passengers or local residents struck by the aircraft as it came down. The victims were badly mutilated, making identification difficult. Authorities believe all on board may have perished. - Occupants on Board
According to Sub-County Police Commander Maurice Odanga, the plane had between three to four people on board. Preliminary investigations suggest there may be no survivors, although rescue efforts are ongoing. - Crash Location and Damage
The plane crashed into residential houses in Mwihoko, near the Secondary Shopping Centre, which lies at the border of Kiambu and Nairobi counties. Eyewitness Njeri Wanjiru described the aircraft as flying unusually low and struggling before hitting several buildings. The impact area spans over 100 metres, and multiple homes have been damaged. - Emergency Response
Teams from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), Kiambu County, and other emergency services are on-site, battling fires and clearing debris. Meanwhile, some residents were seen scavenging for metal scraps at the crash scene despite the ongoing rescue efforts. - Investigation Underway
The KCAA has confirmed that investigations have been launched to determine the technical and human factors behind the crash. Amref Flying Doctors has also assured the public of full transparency during the probe.
This incident adds to a growing list of aviation accidents in Kenya in recent years, raising concerns about flight safety and operational standards for both military and civilian aircraft in the region.
This is a developing story. More updates to follow on
Please download our HOTDIGITAL ONLINE APP and follow HotDigital Online on our social media platforms to stay updated on our upcoming initiatives.
#HotDigitalHealthAwareness #CommunityHealth #GhanaNursesAssociationUK #HealthMatters #HotDigitalOnline #StrongerTogether
