NATION MOURNS AMREF FLYING DOCTORS CREW LOST IN MWIHOKO PLANE CRASH.

BY NJOKI KARANJA. 

Nairobi, Kenya.

Kenya is in mourning following the tragic crash of an AMREF Flying Doctors aircraft in Mwihoko, Nairobi, that claimed the lives of four crew members and two civilians on Tuesday.

The accident, described as a “devastating loss” by Amref Health Africa, took the lives of Captain Muthuka Munuve, Captain Brian Kimani Miaro, Dr. Charles Mugo Njoroge, and Nurse Jane Rispah Aluoch Omusula — all remembered as heroes who dedicated their lives to saving others.

Captain Miaro, an instructor pilot on the Pilatus PC-12 with over 5,800 flight hours, was training to become a check pilot. Captain Munuve, with more than 10,000 hours of flying experience, had served for nearly seven years on multiple aircraft types. Dr. Njoroge had been a medical doctor with AMREF for over seven and a half years, while Nurse Omusula had served as an emergency flight nurse for nearly five years.

“These were not just professionals; they were heroes,” AMREF said in a statement, hailing their courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to service.

The crash also caused fatalities and displacement within the Mwihoko community. AMREF confirmed six deaths in total and has been offering psychosocial support to bereaved families. Working alongside the Kenya Red Cross, the organisation has provided mattresses, blankets, collapsible beds, mosquito nets, soap, and clothing to affected residents.

Investigations are underway, with authorities confirming the recovery of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR), although parts of the FDR remain missing. AMREF has appealed to local residents to assist in locating the remaining components, stressing their importance in determining the cause of the crash.

The tragedy coincided with the anniversary of AMREF’s founding in 1957 — a poignant reminder of the organisation’s decades-long mission to deliver emergency medical care across Africa’s most remote and dangerous regions.

“This tragedy is a powerful reminder of the risks our medical and aviation teams face every single day to ensure someone, somewhere, gets a second chance at life,” the organisation said. “We recommit ourselves to honouring the legacy of our fallen heroes — not just with words, but with action. Their mission will not end here.”