Black box analysis of Mwihoko crash to begin late September

AMREF officials assess part of the scene where the aircraft crashed at Mwihoko, Kiambu county on August 8, 2025/FILE

The Ministry of Roads and Transport has said the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the Mwihoko crash will be analysed in late September and early October 2025.

The African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) aircraft crashed in Mwihoko, Ruiru Sub-County, at around 2:17 pm on August 7, 2025, claiming six lives.

In a press release on Friday, the ministry stated:

“The joint FDR and CVR readout and analysis exercise will be conducted in the last week of September and the first week of October 2025 with the participation of AAID investigators, Accredited Representatives, and observers.”

The announcement follows the tragic accident involving a Cessna Citation 560XLS aircraft, registration 5Y-FDM, which crashed shortly after take-off from Wilson Airport.

The plane, on a medical evacuation flight to Hargeisa, Somaliland, had four people on board, including two pilots, a doctor and a nurse.

According to the preliminary report, “all the four occupants on board the aircraft and two persons on the ground suffered fatal injuries while two others on the ground suffered serious injuries.”

The aircraft struck a residential building near the AIPCA Ngatho Church in Mwihoko and was destroyed by impact forces and fire.

Emergency responders from multiple government agencies arrived at the scene immediately, while investigators from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) were deployed to conduct onsite investigations and interview witnesses.

In line with international protocols under Annexe 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the ministry said:

“Kenya, being the State of Registry, Operator and occurrence, is obligated to notify the States of Design and Manufacture of the aircraft, engines, and ICAO.”

Following this requirement, the AAID notified the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB).

Both agencies appointed Accredited Representatives to support the investigation.

The engine manufacturer, Pratt and Whitney Canada, also assigned a technical advisor, while AMREF Flying Doctors and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) designated observers.

The ministry confirmed that AAID investigators recovered and preserved the flight recorders before dispatching them to the NTSB recorders laboratory in the United States.

“Investigation into identifying the probable cause(s) of the accident is ongoing,” the statement said.

The preliminary report has been published and is available on the AAID website (aaid.transport.go.ke/preliminary-reports).