On Thursday, August 7, 2025, a Cessna Citation 560 XLS air ambulance operated by AMREF Flying Doctors crashed into a residential neighborhood in Mwihoko, Kiambu County, shortly after taking off from Wilson Airport in Nairobi. The aircraft was en route to Hargeisa, in Somaliland.
According to Kenyan authorities, six people died in the crash: the four occupants of the plane , two pilots and two medical staff and two civilians on the ground who were inside a house struck by the aircraft. The plane lost altitude minutes after takeoff and collided with a residential building, sparking a fire that was quickly extinguished by emergency crews.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing unusual engine noises before the crash. Videos circulating on social media show the aircraft wreckage engulfed in flames in the middle of a densely populated area. No mayday call was issued by the crew, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
Investigators from KCAA and the Ministry of Transport arrived on-site shortly after the crash. The aircraft’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders were recovered Thursday evening. AMREF Flying Doctors confirmed that the plane had undergone a full technical inspection the day before the flight.
The government has extended its condolences to the victims’ families and urged the public to await the outcome of the investigation, which could take several weeks.
Joseph Kabuye , Correspondent , Kampala
