The identities of the four crew members who perished in the Mwihoko AMREF Flying Doctors aircraft crash have been officially confirmed.
In a statement, AMREF Flying Doctors CEO Stephen Gitau named the victims as Captain Muthuka Munuve, Captain Brian Kimani Miaro, Dr. Charles Mugo Njoroge, and Nurse Jane Rispah Aluoch Omusula. The Cessna Citation XLS (5Y-FDM) went down on Thursday shortly after taking off from Wilson Airport, claiming six lives four onboard and two on the ground.
“This is an immense loss not just to the AMREF family, but to the entire nation,” Gitau said. “These were not just professionals; they were heroes who dedicated their lives to saving others.”
Captain Munuve had nearly seven years of experience as a captain and check pilot on both the Cessna Citation XLS and Pilatus PC-12, logging over 10,000 flight hours. Captain Miaro, an instructor on the PC-12, had amassed more than 5,800 flight hours and was training to become a check pilot.
Dr. Njoroge had served as a dedicated medical doctor for over seven and a half years, while Nurse Omusula worked as an emergency flight nurse for four years and eight months. Gitau noted that their combined skills and dedication were vital in delivering life-saving care across Kenya and beyond.
The crash occurred on the anniversary of AMREF’s founding in 1957, compounding the emotional impact on the organisation and the Mwihoko community. In partnership with the Kenya Red Cross, AMREF has provided displaced families with essential supplies and psychosocial support.
“Over the past 24 hours, our crisis teams have been in close contact with the families of our fallen colleagues, offering emotional, psychological and logistical assistance,” Gitau said.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing. Authorities have recovered the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and parts of the flight data recorder (FDR), with efforts underway to locate missing components. Gitau appealed to residents for cooperation in retrieving the remaining parts.
AMREF Flying Doctors pledged to honour the fallen crew through continued service, upholding the values of courage, compassion, and integrity. “Their mission will not end here,” Gitau affirmed. “We will carry forward their legacy with action, not just words.”
