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'We are baffled': Amref speaks after tragic plane crash, urges locals not to keep debris
A body is carried away from the spot where a Cessna plane belonging Amref Flying Doctors crashed at Mwihoko, Kiambu county on August 7, 2025.
What you need to know:
- The crash occurred just minutes after the aircraft, a Cessna Citation XLS with registration 5Y-FDM, took off from Wilson Airport at 2:17pm.
- The aircraft came down in Mwihoko, an area that straddles the border of Kiambu and Nairobi counties, hitting several residential houses.
Six people — including all four Amref Flying Doctors crew and two members of the local community — have been confirmed dead after a light aircraft crashed into residential houses in the Mwihoko area of Githurai 45 on Thursday afternoon.
Amref Flying Doctors on Thursday evening confirmed that all four of its crew members — the pilot, first officer, nurse, and doctor — died in the crash. However, Amref did not disclose their names.
“We confirm with deep regret that there were no survivors,” said Amref Flying Doctors Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stephen Gitau. “Tragically, two members of the community at the crash site also lost their lives.”
Amref Health Africa Group CEO Dr Githinji Gitahi addresses the media at Weston Hotel in Nairobi on August 7, 2025, after a plane belonging to Amref crashed in Mwihoko area.
He added that four more individuals sustained minor injuries, were treated at the scene, and later discharged.
"Our plea, to the community, please do not keep the debris we need all this evidence to piece everything up so we can get to the bottom of this," Dr Gitau said.
The crash occurred just minutes after the aircraft, a Cessna Citation XLS with registration 5Y-FDM, took off from Wilson Airport at 2:17pm, en route to Hargeisa, Somaliland.
Emergency personnel work at the scene where a Cessna plane operated by Amref Flying Doctors crashed into buildings in the Githurai suburb of northeastern Nairobi, Kenya, August 7, 2025.
“The aircraft lost contact with the tower about three minutes into the flight, and the flight control tower immediately called AMREF Flying Doctors to inform about the lost contact,” Mr Gitau, adding that the office unsuccessfully tried reaching the crew via satellite.
Speaking on the professionalism of the team on board, Amref Flying Doctors CEO emphasized that the crew were not only well-trained but also highly experienced in international operations.
“The crew were very experienced. It's not their first time in that aircraft. They've done missions all over the world,” he said.
A member of the security forces gestures as emergency personnel work at the scene where a Cessna plane operated by Amref Flying Doctors crashed into buildings in the Githurai suburb of northeastern Nairobi, Kenya, August 7, 2025.
Mr Gitau also addressed concerns about the aircraft’s condition before the flight. “At this point, we have no idea what happened to this aircraft. It's a jet, it's a very high-performing aircraft, and for it to lose contact with the control tower in three minutes is very bad because they were still climbing.”
“Amref Flying Doctors maintained the highest levels of safety, maintenance, crew training, everything — the highest levels that there is, absolutely," he added.
Kenya Airports Authority staff member inspects the wreckage at the scene where a Cessna plane belonging to Amref Flying Doctors crashed at Mwihoko area on August 7, 2025.
The aircraft came down in Mwihoko, an area that straddles the border of Kiambu and Nairobi counties, hitting several residential houses.
“We do hope that at the site we can recover the important black box and the flight recorders and everything, so that we can know what conversations the captain in the tower had before they lost their contact. At the moment, we're in the dark. But in terms of safety, maintenance, Amref Flying Doctors has the highest standards required by law on such an aircraft,” Mr Gitau explained.
“It's tragic. We are saddened. And we will get to know more as the authorities look deeper into what exactly happened.”
A woman breaks down near the scene where a Cessna plane operated by Amref Flying Doctors crashed into buildings in the Githurai suburb of northeastern Nairobi, Kenya, August 7, 2025.
According to eyewitnesses, the aircraft was flying at an unusually low altitude before it crashed. “It looked like it was struggling to land...it hit several houses before crashing,” said Njeri Wanjiru, a local resident who witnessed the incident.
Images and video footage from the scene showed thick plumes of smoke, the charred remains of the aircraft, and visibly shaken residents.
Some houses were seen partially destroyed, with debris scattered across courtyards and rooftops.
