6 fatalities

2025-08-07: Cessna 560XLS Citation Excel (5Y-FDM) — AMREF - Flying Doctor Service — Mwihoko, Kenya

Mwihoko, KenyaTakeoff (climb)

On August 7, 2025, a Cessna 560XLS Citation Excel (registration 5Y-FDM) operated by AMREF - Flying Doctor Service was involved in an aviation accident near Mwihoko, Kenya during takeoff. 6 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781188414Data APIEditorial standards

An ambulance flight departing from Nairobi-Wilson Airport crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in six fatalities.

What happened

On a scheduled medical transport mission from Nairobi-Wilson Airport to Hargeisa, Somalia, an ambulance flight experienced a catastrophic failure during its initial climb. The aircraft, departing from Runway 14 at 14:17 local time, was carrying a total of four people, including two pilots and two medical personnel.

Approximately three minutes after leaving the runway, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent. The plane crashed in the Mwihoko district, located roughly 22 km northeast of Wilson Airport. The force of the impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate. The accident resulted in six fatalities in total, as the four occupants of the aircraft and two individuals on the ground were killed.

Findings

No specific technical cause for the loss of control has been officially determined, though the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent during the climbing phase of flight.