Two AMREF pilots killed in the Mwihoko plane crash that claimed the lives of six people on Thursday, August 7, 2025, just minutes after the aircraft took off from the Wilson Airport, have been laid to rest.

In a statement on Friday, August 22, 2025, AMREF hailed the fallen pilots, noting that their dedication to service will remain in the legacy of the organization.

“Today, we lay to rest two of our colleagues. Captain Eric Muthuka Munuve and Captain Brian Kimani Miaro,” AMREF said.

“Their dedication, courage, and service to humanity will forever remain etched in our hearts and in the legacy of AMREF Flying Doctors. Rest in peace, Skippers.”

The Cessna Citation XLS jet, registered as 5Y-FDM, was on a medical mission to Hargeisa, Somalia, to evacuate a patient. According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), contact with the plane was lost approximately three minutes after it departed.

The aircraft crashed into a house in a densely populated area, causing a massive fireball and widespread debris. The crash claimed the lives of all four people on board the plane: two pilots, a doctor, and a nurse.

Ground casualties

Tragically, two people on the ground also died as a result of the crash after the plane struck their home. Additionally, two other individuals on the ground were injured and were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

AMREF Flying Doctors, the organization operating the aircraft, confirmed the crash and expressed its deepest condolences to the families of all those affected.

In a statement, AMREF’s CEO, Stephen Gitau, stated that the organization is “cooperating fully with relevant aviation authorities and emergency response teams to establish the facts surrounding the situation.”

Gitau also emphasized that the immediate priority was to support the families of the victims, and the organization has pledged to provide emotional, logistical, and practical support to the bereaved families.

Investigation ongoing

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the KCAA’s Air Accident Investigation Department.

The plane’s cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR), also known as the black box, have been recovered and are expected to be sent abroad for further analysis, where the investigation will examine flight data, communications, and wreckage to determine the factors that led to the tragedy.