Six people were killed on Thursday when an AMREF Flying Doctors air-ambulance crashed into the crowded Mwihoko neighborhood of Githurai, northeast of Nairobi, shortly after departing from Wilson Airport.

The aircraft, a Cessna Citation XLS, was en route to Hargeisa in Somaliland on a medical evacuation mission. It vanished from radar just three minutes after its 2:14 p.m. takeoff, prompting immediate concern from aviation authorities.

Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula confirmed that all four occupants of the aircraft — the pilot, copilot, and two medical personnel — died in the crash. Two residents on the ground were also killed when the wreckage struck nearby homes.

The impact ignited a fire that spread across several structures, with videos circulating online showing firefighters battling flames amid twisted metal and scattered medical equipment.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced the launch of a formal investigation. Authorities are reviewing flight data, maintenance records, and communications logs to determine the cause of the crash.

Witnesses described hearing a sudden roar before the aircraft tore through rooftops, followed by a fireball that engulfed part of the neighborhood.

This tragedy adds to a troubling pattern of light aircraft accidents in East Africa. In April 2024, Kenya’s Chief of Defence Forces and nine others died in a helicopter crash just minutes after takeoff.

The inquiry into Thursday’s crash is ongoing, with officials emphasizing the need for improved oversight and safety protocols in the region’s aviation sector.

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