The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has issued fresh details involving a light aircraft that crashed into a residential building in Mwihoko, Kiambu County.
In a statement on Thursday, August 7, KCAA Director General Emile Arao confirmed that the accident involved a Cessna Citation 560 ambulance, aircraft registration: 5Y-FDM, and radio call sign: FDS03.
Preliminary reports by the state corporation indicate that:
Departure: Wilson Airport (HKNW) at 02:14 PM local time en route to Hargeisa, Somalia.
Loss of contact: Lost both radio and radar contact with Air Traffic Control at 02:17 PM, approximately 3 minutes after takeoff.
Persons On Board (POB): 4 crew and medical personnel.
Crash location: Near Mwihoko Secondary School, Utawala.
Response efforts: Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) and National Police Service are leading search and rescue operations on-site.
Also Read: Two Kenya Air Force Officers Killed in Plane Crash
According to KCAA, the Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID) has dispatched a team to determine the cause of the accident.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident involving an air ambulance mission. Our immediate priority is to support rescue efforts and provide all necessary assistance to the families affected. A full investigation through AAID will be conducted to establish the cause of this accident,” said KCAA.
Earlier, videos seen by The Kenya Times showed a crowd gathered around the scene as a cloud of smoke billowed in the vicinity.
Also Read: Aircraft Crashes on a Building in Mwihoko
Additionally, buildings in the crash site were destroyed by the impact, with debris and iron sheets scattered on the ground.
AMREF issues update after light aircraft crashes in Mwihoko
The AMREF Flying Doctors, CEO and Accountable Manager Stephen Gitau, has also issued a statement confirming an aircraft belonging to the leading provider of fixed-wing air ambulance services in Africa, a Cessna Citation XLS, registration 5Y-FDM, was involved in a fatal accident today.
“The aircraft took off from Wilson at 1417hrs en-route to Hargeisa, Somalia and crashed at Mwihoko area, Nairobi.
At this time, we are cooperating fully with relevant aviation authorities and emergency response teams to establish the facts surrounding the situation.Our immediate focus is on the safety and well-being of those on board and providing full support to their families and colleagues. We are also offering all necessary assistance to the authorities as investigations continue.
Further information will be provided as soon as it is confirmed. We respectfully ask for patience and understanding as we manage this evolving situation with care and accuracy.
All official updates will be shared through AMREF Flying Doctors’ official website and social media channels,” said Gitau.
KCAA confirms Naivasha aircraft crash
In January this year, KCAA also confirmed that an aircraft accident occurred at Kedong Ranch, Naivasha, involving a Cessna 185 aircraft, registration 5Y-BVL.
Preliminary reports indicated that the accident occurred at approximately 17:14 hrs on January 30. There were two persons on board, both of whom unfortunately lost their lives.
The flight had departed from Wilson Airport and was en route to Mbaruk. The initial information was reported by a member of the public to the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC).
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