Kiambu: Fresh Details Show Aircraft that Crashed in Mwihoko Killing 6 People Was Heading to Somalia
- On Thursday, August 7, a light aircraft crashed in a residential area in Mwihoko, Kiambu county
- AMREF Flying Doctors CEO Stephen Gitau issued a statement on the details of the aircraft, which crashed a few minutes after taking off at Wilson Airport
- Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula addressed the press, stating the number of casualties following the crash
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Kiambu - Fresh details have emerged regarding the plane accident that occurred in Ruiru Constituency.
Source: Twitter
On Thursday, August 7, an aircraft crashed in a residential area near Mwihoko Secondary School, directly opposite Ngatho AIPCA Church.
How did the AMREF plane crash in Mwihoko?
According to eyewitnesses, the aircraft was seen spiralling down before hitting the ground with a loud bang that shook the entire area.
The Kenya Defence Forces team from nearby barracks swiftly arrived at the scene to manage the growing crowd and secure the area.
Several nearby houses caught fire due to the crash, but the fire brigade managed to contain and extinguish the flames before further damage could occur.
Preliminary investigations indicate the aircraft belongs to Phoenix Aviation and was operating under AMREF’s Flying Doctors service.
How many people were in the AMREF chopper that crashed?
The plane had taken off from Wilson Airport and was en route to Hargeisa in Somalia when it lost contact with air traffic controllers at around 12:17pm.
Citizen TV reported that the aircraft, Cessna Citation XLS, registration 5Y-FDM, had four people on board at the time it went down under unclear circumstances, scattering debris across the crash site.
In a statement on the incident, AMREF Flying Doctors CEO Stephen Gitau said the aircraft took off from Wilson Airport at 2.17pm en route to Hargeisa, Somalia, before it crashed in Mwihoko.
Gitau said they are providing the necessary assistance to the authorities investigating the cause of the crash.
"AMREF Flying Doctors confirms that one of its aircraft, a Cessna Citation XLS, registration 5Y--FDM, was involved in a fatal accident today. The aircraft took off from Wilson at 1417hr en route to Hargeisa, Somalia and crashed at Mwihoko area.
"Our immediate focus is on the safety and well-being of those on board and providing support to their families and colleagues. We are also offering necessary assistance to the authorities, and investigations continue," Gitau said.
Kiambu County Commissioner, Henry Wafula, confirmed that six people, including two doctors, two nurses, and two on the ground, died in the crash.
Several other people were seriously injured and have been rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Source: Facebook
Eyewitness recounts how events unfolded?
As reported earlier, eyewitnesses said the aircraft developed technical problems midair before it crashed into residential houses and burst into flames.
One witness narrated how the AMREF plane struggled with descent before hitting the rooftops of nearby homes.
The aftermath was described by many as horrific, with several plane parts scattered all over the place.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
