Latest news with #EmileArao
UPI
08-08-2025
- Health
- UPI
Six killed after 'flying doctors' aircraft crashes in Nairobi, Kenya
Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Six people were killed and two seriously injured in Kenya after a small executive jet operated by a medical charity crashed into a residential area shortly after take-off from Nairobi International Airport en route to northern Somalia. All four people aboard and two on the ground died when the Cessna Citation XLS belonging to Amref Flying Doctors came down in a northeastern suburb of the capital on Thursday afternoon. Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Director-General Emile Arao said the aircraft lost radio and radar contact with Air Traffic Control just three minutes into the flight. People on the ground described hearing a loud bang before seeing a fireball in the sky and black smoke as the aircraft plummeted, hitting the ground very hard. The military joined police in a search and rescue operation, while Air Accident Investigation Department officials dispatched to the crash site were expected to launch an official investigation. The deceased on board included a doctor, a nurse, the captain and first officer, according to Amref, which said the aircraft was on a medical evacuation flight to pick up a patient 920 miles away in Hargeisa, the Somali capital. "We are profoundly saddened by this tragic loss and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of our fallen colleagues and the affected members of the community. We are doing everything possible to support the families, friends and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time," said Amref Flying Doctors CEO Stephen Gitau. Gitau added that the charity was cognizant of the impact on the community where the crash occurred and offered its sympathies and support. According to its website, Amref Flying Doctors is affiliated with the African Medical and Research Foundation, an NGO, but its medical and air ambulance service operates on a commercial basis, with any profit going to support Amref's work to deliver lasting health change in Africa.
The Star
07-08-2025
- General
- The Star
1st LD: Light aircraft with 4 onboard crashes in Kenya capital
NAIROBI, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A light aircraft carrying four people crashed Thursday in a residential area on the outskirts of Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said in a statement. The accident involved a Cessna Citation 560 air ambulance, registration 5Y-FDM, which took off from Wilson Airport in Nairobi at 2:14 p.m. local time en route to Hargeisa in northern Somalia. It crashed three minutes later in the Mwihoko area, the statement said. KCAA Director-General Emile Arao said the aircraft, operated by AMREF Flying Doctors, went down under unclear circumstances. He did not disclose the fate of those on board. "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," Arao said. Kenya Defence Forces and National Police Service are leading the search and rescue efforts at the crash site, according to the statement. The Air Accident Investigation Department has dispatched a team to investigate the cause of the crash. AMREF also confirmed the accident, saying it was cooperating fully with aviation authorities and emergency responders to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash. AMREF Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gitau said in a separate statement that their 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," Gitau added. Images from the scene showed the wreckage engulfed in flames as witnesses watched from a distance.
