In brief
Six individuals lose their lives when a medical aircraft crashes into a residential area in Nairobi, prompting investigations into the cause.
Six people were confirmed dead following a tragic crash of a medical charity light aircraft in Nairobi, Kenya. The incident involved a Cessna, which belonged to Amref Flying Doctors and was en route from Wilson Airport to Hargeisa in Somalia on Thursday afternoon. The plane crashed into a residential building in the Githurai area and erupted in flames.According to Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula, among the victims were four individuals aboard the plane, which included doctors, nurses, and the pilot. Additionally, two people on the ground lost their lives, with two others sustaining serious injuries. Emergency responders and aviation investigators have been dispatched to the crash site to determine the cause of the accident.Reports from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority indicated that the plane lost radio and radar contact with air traffic control just three minutes after its departure. Amref's CEO, Stephen Gitau, said they are fully cooperating with aviation authorities and emergency response teams to establish the facts surrounding the incident. Eyewitness Patricia Kombo recounted the harrowing moment she experienced the crash while in a taxi. Hearing a loud explosion and seeing a flash of light, she witnessed smoke billowing from the crash site just moments later. In related news, a separate incident occurred when a train collided with a bus near Naivasha town, resulting in at least four additional deaths. The bus, operated by the Kenya Pipeline Company, was transporting staff returning from a morning shift at a training center. All injured personnel were transported to local hospitals for care.
