The tragic plane crash occurred on Thursday, August 7, in a residential area of Mwihoko, Kiambu County, on the outskirts of Nairobi, causing multiple fatalities and a major emergency response.
The crash happened in the afternoon, around 2.30pm local time, just a few minutes after the aircraft had taken off.
The crash occurred just minutes after the aircraft took off from Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
The plane's intended destination was Hargeisa, in northern Somalia. It was on a flight to provide medical assistance.
It was a Cessna Citation, an air ambulance operated by AMREF Flying Doctors.
The specific registration number of the aircraft was confirmed as 5Y-FDM.
The crash site is located in the Mwihoko area of Kiambu County, which borders Nairobi. Eyewitnesses said the plane went down near a residential building.
The total number of reported casualties so far is six. This includes the four people who were on board the plane and two people who were on the ground inside a house that was struck by the aircraft.
Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula confirmed that the four people on the plane - two crew members and two medical personnel - died in the crash.
Wafula also confirmed that two residents inside a house that the plane struck were killed in the incident.
Two other people on the ground were injured and were rushed to a local hospital for treatment.
AMREF Flying Doctors, the owner and operator of the aircraft, released a statement confirming the tragic accident.
In their statement, AMREF said they are cooperating fully with relevant aviation authorities and emergency response teams to establish the facts surrounding the situation.
AMREF CEO Stephen Gitau stated that the organization's immediate focus is on the safety and well-being of those on board and providing full support to their families and colleagues during this difficult time.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has also issued a statement confirming the crash details.
KCAA Director-General Emile Arao stated that the aircraft lost both radio and radar contact with Air Traffic Control just three minutes after takeoff.
The KCAA confirmed that its Air Accident Investigation Department has dispatched a team to the crash site to launch a full probe into the cause of the accident.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), which manages Wilson Airport, is yet to issue a statement, but is presumed to be assisting in the ongoing investigations.
The Ministry of Transport is also involved, as its Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID) is leading an official investigation into the cause of the crash.
Security agencies, including the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the National Police Service, were among the first responders at the scene.
They worked to cordon off the area, manage the large crowd of onlookers, and assist with search and rescue operations.
The Kenya Red Cross also deployed its rescue teams to the site to provide emergency assistance.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud bang and seeing a fireball and heavy smoke as the aircraft went down, describing a sudden and violent impact.
The debris from the aircraft was scattered across a wide area, and several buildings in the immediate vicinity sustained damage.
A formal process of identifying the victims and supporting their families is underway.
