A tragic plane crash in Nairobi has left six people dead after a light aircraft operated by Amref Flying Doctors went down in the city’s Githurai area on Thursday afternoon.
The Cessna aircraft, which took off from Wilson Airport, was en route to Hargeisa in Somalia before it crashed just three minutes into its flight. According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, the plane lost both radar and radio contact with air traffic control shortly after takeoff.
“We are cooperating fully with relevant aviation authorities and emergency response teams to establish the facts surrounding the situation,” said Stephen Gitau, CEO of Amref Flying Doctors, in an official statement.
Authorities say the crash claimed the lives of four individuals onboard, including medical staff and the pilot, along with two civilians on the ground. Two others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the hospital.
Eyewitness Patricia Kombo told the BBC that she witnessed the incident while traveling through Githurai.
“Before I could take my phone to record, the flash was gone, and smoke was billowing. We then heard people screaming and running,” she recounted.
The Kenya Defence Forces and National Police Service were quickly deployed to the crash site to assist with rescue and recovery operations. Investigators have also been dispatched to determine the cause of the crash.
Amref Flying Doctors is a well-respected medical charity that provides emergency air evacuation and health services across the region. The loss of its crew members and aircraft is a significant blow to the organization.
In a separate accident on the same day, a Kenya Pipeline Company staff bus collided with a train near Naivasha town, killing at least four people. The Red Cross confirmed the incident and said the injured were receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.
Both tragedies have cast a somber mood over the country, as emergency responders continue their investigations and recovery efforts.
