A tragic plane crash near Nairobi, Kenya, has claimed the lives of six people after a medical aircraft operated by AMREF Flying Doctors crashed into a residential area shortly after takeoff. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon in the Morendat Farm area near Lake Naivasha.

According to aviation officials, the light medical aircraft had departed from Wilson Airport at 2:14 PM local time, en route to Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. Just three minutes after takeoff, the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control and plummeted into a house, sparking a fire and causing massive destruction.

The crash resulted in the deaths of four passengers aboard the plane and two individuals on the ground, confirmed Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula. He also noted that two more people on the ground suffered serious injuries.

Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene. Tasha Wanjira, a local resident, said she saw the plane burning in the air before impact. Another resident, Irene Wangui, said the aircraft passed so close to her building that it shook from the vibrations moments before the crash.

Emergency services, including the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Red Cross responders, and other local rescue teams, arrived quickly at the scene. A helicopter was dispatched to assist in rescue operations. Red Cross teams recovered four bodies from the wreckage, while others worked to support those injured and affected in the area.

The KCAA has launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash and expressed its condolences to the families affected.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident involving an air ambulance mission,” the Authority said in a statement.

AMREF Flying Doctors, a nonprofit medical air service, also confirmed that the aircraft was on a humanitarian medical mission at the time of the crash.

Authorities are expected to provide further updates as investigations continue.