Kenya Air Ambulance Plane Crashes Near Nairobi, Killing Six

A tragic air accident on Thursday claimed six lives when an air ambulance jet crashed into a residential area in Kiambu County, just outside Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

The ill-fated aircraft, a Cessna Citation XLS operated by AMREF Flying Doctors, had departed from Nairobi en route to Somaliland when it went down shortly after takeoff. AMREF, a well-known emergency medical evacuation provider in East Africa, confirmed the crash in a statement, noting that it is working closely with aviation authorities and emergency teams to determine the cause.

While the company did not initially release casualty figures or speculate on the cause, local authorities later confirmed that all six people on board were killed. The victims reportedly included crew members and medical personnel.

The Kenya Red Cross was among the first responders, deploying rescue teams to the crash site in the Tigoni area of Kiambu. In its early updates, the humanitarian organisation mistakenly reported the downed aircraft as a helicopter before clarifying the details.

According to The Star newspaper, the accident triggered a swift emergency response, with military and police units quickly securing the site to control crowds and preserve evidence for investigation.

Kenyan government officials have yet to provide a formal statement, but the crash has drawn national attention due to AMREF’s long-standing role in delivering life-saving medical flights across the region.

The cause of the accident remains unknown, with Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority and other investigative bodies expected to lead a formal inquiry. AMREF has pledged to release further details once investigations progress.