6 Dead After Medical Plane Crashes in Nairobi Neighbourhood
Cessna Aircraft Carrying Medical Staff Goes Down in Kenyan Capital
Six people have been killed after a small plane carrying medical staff crashed into a densely populated neighbourhood in Nairobi on Thursday afternoon. Local authorities confirmed that four people on board and two people on the ground lost their lives in the incident.
The Cessna aircraft, operated by AMREF Flying Doctors, was en route to Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, when it went down. In a statement, the medical charity said the crew was on a humanitarian mission at the time of the crash. Witnesses described hearing a loud noise before a fireball erupted, scattering debris across the residential area. One resident, speaking anonymously, told reporters she was shocked by the sudden blast and the scenes of destruction.
Firefighters Battle Flames as Investigation Begins
Unverified footage circulating on social media showed firefighters working to extinguish burning wreckage inside what appeared to be a residential compound. Emergency teams arrived swiftly to secure the area and assist survivors.
Crashes involving light aircraft are not uncommon in East Africa, where challenging terrain, unpredictable weather, and maintenance issues have been known to contribute to aviation accidents. The tragedy comes just over a year after Kenya’s military chief and nine others were killed in a helicopter crash shortly after take-off. Aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of Thursday’s disaster.
