A light aircraft operated by Amref Flying Doctors crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the loss of four lives on board, including medical personnel, along with two casualties on the ground.
Six Fatalities in Kenyan Medical Plane Crash, Officials Report
Six Fatalities in Kenyan Medical Plane Crash, Officials Report
A tragic accident involving a medical charity aircraft has left six dead in Nairobi, according to local authorities.
Nairobi, Kenya – A light aircraft belonging to the medical charity Amref Flying Doctors plunged to the ground shortly after departure on Thursday afternoon, leading to a horrific crash in the Githurai neighborhood of Nairobi. As reported by local officials, the incident has claimed the lives of six individuals. Among those deceased were four members of the flight crew, which included doctors and nurses, in addition to two people who were on the ground at the time of the incident.
The Cessna aircraft took off from Wilson Airport and was en route to Hargeisa in Somalia when it lost both radar and radio contact with air traffic control just three minutes after takeoff, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. Responding promptly to the emergency, the Kenya Defence Forces and the National Police Service have launched search and recovery operations at the crash site.
Stephen Gitau, the CEO of Amref, issued a statement expressing the organization’s commitment to cooperating fully with aviation authorities and emergency response teams to investigate the cause of the crash. The staff and crew aboard the plane were dedicated to providing medical services, and their loss is a severe blow to the community.
Eyewitnesses described the shocking scene, with one local named Patricia Kombo recounting how she heard a loud bang which was followed by a flash of flames. She and her friends soon discovered the source of danger was the crash, noting the aftermath of smoke and chaos in the vicinity.
In a disconcerting series of events, this incident comes in the wake of another tragedy, where a train and a bus collided at a railway crossing near Naivasha town, resulting in at least four fatalities. The bus, operated by the Kenya Pipeline Company, was reportedly transporting staff who had just completed their morning shifts from one of its training centers.
Authorities are investigating both incidents to determine the circumstances surrounding these deadly occurrences as the nation grapples with the impact of these tragedies.
The Cessna aircraft took off from Wilson Airport and was en route to Hargeisa in Somalia when it lost both radar and radio contact with air traffic control just three minutes after takeoff, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. Responding promptly to the emergency, the Kenya Defence Forces and the National Police Service have launched search and recovery operations at the crash site.
Stephen Gitau, the CEO of Amref, issued a statement expressing the organization’s commitment to cooperating fully with aviation authorities and emergency response teams to investigate the cause of the crash. The staff and crew aboard the plane were dedicated to providing medical services, and their loss is a severe blow to the community.
Eyewitnesses described the shocking scene, with one local named Patricia Kombo recounting how she heard a loud bang which was followed by a flash of flames. She and her friends soon discovered the source of danger was the crash, noting the aftermath of smoke and chaos in the vicinity.
In a disconcerting series of events, this incident comes in the wake of another tragedy, where a train and a bus collided at a railway crossing near Naivasha town, resulting in at least four fatalities. The bus, operated by the Kenya Pipeline Company, was reportedly transporting staff who had just completed their morning shifts from one of its training centers.
Authorities are investigating both incidents to determine the circumstances surrounding these deadly occurrences as the nation grapples with the impact of these tragedies.
