A medical evacuation aircraft crashed into a residential area on the outskirts of Nairobi on Thursday, killing at least six people and leaving two others with serious injuries, local authorities confirmed.
The fatal crash came just a day after a Ghanaian military helicopter went down, killing all eight people on board, including high-ranking government ministers.
The Kenyan incident occurred shortly after the aircraft departed from Wilson Airport in Nairobi at 2:17 p.m. local time (1100 GMT). The plane, bound for Somaliland, crashed in Ruiru, Kiambu County, just after 3:00 p.m. (1200 GMT).
“We have lost four people, including the pilot… it was all fatal,” said Kiambu County commissioner, Henry Wafula.
“The house that it landed on… two people also died,” he added, noting that two others on the ground sustained “serious injuries.”
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Images captured by AFP at the crash site showed a massive crowd gathering as emergency crews combed through the debris of the shattered aircraft and damaged home.
“The plane started burning while in the air,” said local resident Tasha Wanjira, describing the terrifying moments before the crash.
Another witness, Irene Wangui, recounted: “The plane passed by our building shaking it,” and when it finally came down, “there were body parts littered all over.”
As night fell, the scene remained chaotic and emotional, with residents watching rescue operations and comforting distraught neighbours.
“I have lost everything, thank God my children were not around,” wept Margaret Wairimu, whose home was destroyed in the crash.
Stephen Gitau, CEO of Amref Flying Doctors, confirmed that one of the organisation’s aircraft, a Cessna Citation XLS, had been involved in the crash.
Gitau said the company was prioritising “the safety and well-being of those on board,” and would provide more details “as it is confirmed.”
Amref, headquartered in Nairobi, has been operating since 1957, originally founded as the Flying Doctors of East Africa.