Two Aircraft Crashes Rock Kenya: Military Helicopter and AMREF Plane Go Down Near Nairobi
Kenya was struck by dual tragedies on the afternoon of Thursday, August 7, 2025, when two aircraft reportedly crashed in the Mwihoko area of Githurai, near Nairobi. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion around 3:10 p.m., after which thick black smoke was seen rising from the scene of a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) helicopter crash.
The aircraft was on a routine training mission at the time. Emergency services, including firefighters, military officers, Red Cross teams, and police, swiftly responded and secured the crash zone. Although casualties are feared, the military has not yet provided an official count.
At nearly the same time and location, a separate aviation disaster occurred involving an AMREF Flying Doctors air ambulance. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed the light aircraft had taken off from Wilson Airport at approximately 2:14 p.m. and lost contact with control towers just three minutes into the flight.
The plane crashed directly into a residential property in Mwihoko, killing all four people onboard as well as two individuals who were inside the home at the time. The total confirmed death toll from this second incident stands at six. Rescue and investigation teams have been working around the clock at the scene.
Due to the close proximity in both location and timing, initial reports caused confusion, with some assuming it was a single crash. However, evidence now points to two distinct incidents. While the cause of the military helicopter crash remains under investigation, the KCAA and other aviation authorities have verified details surrounding the AMREF crash.
These back-to-back tragedies have cast a heavy pall over Nairobi and surrounding communities as families, officials, and emergency responders seek answers and accountability.
Source: Reuters.com
