On August 7, 2025, a tragic plane crash happened near Mwihoko Secondary School in Utawala, Kiambu County.
The plane was an air ambulance operated by AMREF Flying Doctors. It was a small jet called a Cessna Citation XLS, with registration number 5Y-FDM.
Mwihoko Plane Crash: Where was the Aircraft Headed?
The plane took off from Wilson Airport in Nairobi at about 2:14 p.m. It was on a medical rescue mission, heading to Hargeisa, Somalia.
Just three minutes after takeoff, at around 2:17 p.m., the plane suddenly stopped communicating with air traffic control. It lost radar contact, and moments later, it crashed into a residential neighborhood.
People nearby saw the plane in trouble before it crashed. Witnesses said they saw sparks and smoke coming from the aircraft while it was flying. And that it was emitting an unnaturally high sound, which could be a sign it had mechanical issues.
The plane then fell rapidly and hit several rooftops and power lines, setting some houses on fire.
Sadly, six people lost their lives: four people on the plane, 4 AMREF Fyling Doctors Crew who were part of the medical rescue team.
And two people on the ground, including a bedridden man and a 12-year-old girl who was making lunch at home.
Mwihoko Plane Crash Fatalities
The mother of 12-year-old Yvonne Nasimiyu heartbreakingly shared that her daughter had just come home from the salon and was cooking when the plane struck their home.
Another woman described finding her husband dead after the crash. He had been very sick and bedridden, unable to move before the accident.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) quickly started an investigation. Rescue teams found the plane’s black box the next day. This device will help experts understand what caused the crash.
Initial reports show the plane crashed soon after takeoff, while it was gaining height. The full reasons behind the crash are not yet known and will be shared once the investigation is complete.
By Vivian K.