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AMREF Air Ambulance Crashes in Kiambu: Six Dead Including Two on the Ground

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Date : August 7, 2025 Location : Mwihoko, Githurai 45 area, Kiambu County, Kenya Aircraft Type : Cessna 560XL Citation XLS Registration : 5Y-FDM Operator : African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) Fatalities : 4 onboard, 2 on the ground Flight Type : Air Ambulance Flight Route : Nairobi-Wilson Airport (HKNW) to Hargeisa Airport (HGA) Accident Category : Fatal Accident (En Route Phase) On the afternoon of Thursday, August 7, 2025, a Cessna 560XL Citation XLS operated by AMREF crashed in a residential area of Mwihoko, near Githurai 45 in Kiambu County, shortly after takeoff from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport. The aircraft, registered as 5Y-FDM, had departed at approximately 14:12 local time on a medevac flight to Hargeisa, Somalia. Approximately five minutes into the flight, the aircraft entered a steep and sudden descent, crashing into a populated neighborhood approximately 22 kilometers northeast of the airport. All four occupants onboard—the pilot, co-pilot, medical personnel—were k...
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Piper PA-38 Accident at Saldanha Vredenburg Airfield

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Saldanha, Western Cape – On Sunday, December 15, 2024, a Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk was involved in an accident at Saldanha Vredenburg Airfield (FASD).

The incident occurred during a training session when the aircraft attempted a downwind landing on runway 02. The plane lost control and overturned near the runway, sustaining substantial damage. The sole occupant, a student pilot, was fortunate to escape with moderate injuries. No other fatalities or injuries were reported.

A downwind landing occurs when an aircraft lands with the wind blowing from behind it, in the same direction it is traveling. This situation is generally avoided in aviation because it increases the aircraft’s ground speed during landing, which can:

  1. Increase the landing distance: Higher ground speed requires more runway to come to a complete stop.
  2. Compromise control: The faster ground speed can make it harder to maintain directional control during touchdown and rollout.
  3. Stress the aircraft: The increased speed may stress brakes and tires.

Pilots aim to land into the wind whenever possible to reduce ground speed and improve control. However, downwind landings might be necessary due to runway constraints, emergencies, or unexpected wind shifts.

This accident highlights the potential risks associated with downwind landings, especially in training scenarios.



Confidence Rating

The information provided is based on news reports and social media sources, which may not always be fully verified. This analysis is a self-effort and does not reflect official statements or conclusions. As such, the confidence rating for this data is considered unofficial and subject to further investigation.

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Location: Vredenburg, South Africa

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