Cessna Plane Crashes In Kenya's Dense Settlement, 6 People Died

UNSPLASH/Bailey Heedick ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - A small plane carrying medical staff crashed in a densely populated settlement in the Kenyan capital on Thursday afternoon. The accident killed six people.

The Cessna aircraft, operated by AMREF Flying Doctors, crashed while flying towards Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland which broke away from Somalia.

Kiambu Regional Commissioner Henry Wafula said four people on board the plane and two people on the ground were killed.

Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority said the plane took off from Wilson Airport at 14:14 local time, Thursday, August 7.

The plane lost contact with air traffic control three minutes later.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident involving this air ambulance mission," KCAA said in a statement.

An eyewitness who asked not to be named, told Reuters he heard a loud noise, then saw fireballs and debris scattered around the neighborhood.

Unverified videos shared on social media show firefighters trying to extinguish the debris burned in what looks like a residential complex.

Accidents involving light planes are relatively common in eastern Africa.

In April 2024, Kenya's military chief was among 10 people killed when their military helicopter crashed shortly after taking off.