Air ambulance crash in Kenya claims 6 lives

At least six people have been killed after an air ambulance crashed into a residential building near the Kenyan capital Nairobi, according to local authorities.

The aircraft, which was en route to Somaliland, went down in the Kinungi area near Kiambu County at approximately 3.00pm local time on Thursday (August 7), shortly after taking off from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport at 2:17pm, reports AFP.

Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula confirmed the fatalities, stating, “We have lost four people on board, including the pilot. Two others who were inside the house where the aircraft crashed also died.” Two additional individuals sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.

Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft caught fire mid-air before crashing into the residential area. “The air ambulance caught fire while in the air. It then crashed in a small residential area,” said local resident Tasha Wanjira.

Photos from the scene showed emergency responders and Kenya Red Cross personnel combing through the wreckage as onlookers gathered nearby.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Authorities have yet to disclose the name of the operator or the identities of the victims.