Six Killed After AMREF Flying Doctors Plane Heading to Hargeisa Crashes in Nairobi

Six people have been confirmed dead after a light aircraft operated by AMREF Flying Doctors crashed in a residential area of Nairobi shortly after takeoff, according to local authorities.

The Cessna aircraft, owned by the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), had departed from Wilson Airport on Thursday afternoon and was en route to Hargeisa, Somaliland when it lost contact with air traffic control just three minutes into the flight. It subsequently crashed into a residential building in Nairobi, bursting into flames.

Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula confirmed that four people aboard the aircraft — including doctors, nurses, and the pilot — died in the crash. Two more fatalities occurred on the ground, and two other individuals sustained serious injuries.

AMREF CEO Stephen Gitau issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the incident and assured the public that the organization is working closely with relevant aviation and emergency authorities to determine the cause of the crash.

“At this time, we are cooperating fully with relevant aviation authorities and emergency response teams to establish the facts surrounding the situation,” said Gitau.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) reported that the aircraft lost both radar and radio contact moments after takeoff. Emergency response teams, including the Kenya Defence Forces and the National Police Service, were immediately deployed to the scene for search and recovery operations.

Eyewitness Patricia Kombo told the BBC that she and her friends were in a taxi heading toward Githurai when they saw a bright red flash and heard a loud bang.

“Before I could take my phone to record, the flash was gone and smoke was billowing,” Kombo said. “We then heard people screaming and running… We discovered it was a plane crash and saw the sunken hole the crash had created in the ground.”

Investigators are now on-site to examine the wreckage and determine what led to the tragic accident.

AMREF Flying Doctors is a leading air ambulance service in Africa, providing critical medical care and emergency evacuations across the continent.