By N, KNA
Amref Flying Doctors has resumed operations eight days after a plane crash claimed the lives of six people, including four of its staff members, during a humanitarian mission to Somalia.
The August 7th accident occurred as the aircraft was heading to evacuate a critically ill child from Somalia to Nairobi for urgent medical treatment.
Those who died from the plane were Captains Muthuka Munuve and Brian Kimani, Dr Charles Njoroge, flight nurse Jane Omusola while two people died in the house on which the plane crashed in Mwihoko estate, Kiambu county.
Speaking at Wilson Airport in Nairobi after the first post-crash mission landed, Amref Flying Doctors Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stephen Gitau described the past week as one of deep grief for the organisation’s staff and the wider community.
He reported that the accident had left the company shaken but also united by the support received from colleagues, customers, and members of the public.
“We have cried together, grieved together and felt helpless, but we have also taken courage from the huge support we have received from our staff, partners, customers and the wider community,” expressed Gitau.
“They died in the line of duty, doing what they loved. On that day, they were heading to Somalia to save the life of a child. By resuming operations, we are saying their lives were not in vain,” he added.
The CEO revealed that before resuming operations, Amref Flying Doctors staff had undergone counselling to help them process the tragedy, with support also extended to the families of the deceased as he announced that funerals for the victims are expected to begin next week.
“We have all been given the chance to grieve, to tell our stories and share our memories. We know the road ahead is still long, but we also know that there are thousands of people out there who call on us in their darkest moments. This mission is a commitment to be there for them,” he remarked.
Further, Gitau mentioned that the organisation is working closely with families to ensure dignified send-offs for all victims, including the two community members.
Notably, the first mission since the tragedy, named Wings of Courage, was a medical evacuation from Nairobi to Belgium, of a patient injured in an accident in Zanzibar. The patient had earlier been flown to Nairobi for treatment at the Aga Khan University Hospital.
The mission was led by Captain Kefa Kihara, emergency flight nurse Joan Ndirangu and flight doctor Dr Morris Waka.
In his remarks, Captain Kihara, a retired military officer, stated that returning to the cockpit after the loss of colleagues was emotionally difficult but necessary.
“It is not easy that we lost our colleagues and then find ourselves back in the air with the same kind of team. But this is our calling. We love helping people, seeing them smile and lifting them up. We did it for our colleagues because they died doing what they loved, and we will continue until our own time comes,” he asserted.
On the other hand, Dr Waka said the patient was aware of the tragedy and had also lost friends in Zanzibar, which made the mission more emotionally taxing.
“She kept asking how we were coping. We were going through the same emotions but had to reassure her and care for her as we always do. In the end, she made it safely to Belgium and expressed her gratitude. For us, that is the reason we fly,” he narrated.
Likewise, flight nurse Ndirangu noted the deep personal loss felt within the organisation.
“Losing someone in our field is very painful, more so when it happens in the line of duty. They were not just co-workers, they were our friends, mentors, and people we saw every day. The corridors will never be the same without them, but the only way to honour them is to keep flying and saving lives,” she said.
Similarly, another Amref crew captains Wainaina and Maganda also landed at Wilson Airport from the Maasai Mara with a patient requiring urgent care shortly after the Belgium evacuation team arrived, underscoring the organisation’s continuous role in providing emergency medical services.
Meanwhile, investigations into the crash are ongoing, with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Office of the Chief Government Pathologist leading the identification of the victims through forensic sampling.
Amref Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Githinji Gitahi, emphasised that Amref Flying Doctors operates as part of the non-profit Amref Health Africa and that the decision to resume flights was driven by the need to save lives rather than organisational survival.
“This is not about us. If we don’t fly, people will lose their lives. Our return to the skies is about getting back to our mission,” he reiterated.
Concurrently, the safe completion of the mission was received with applause on the tarmac, symbolising resilience in the face of grief and reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to providing emergency medical care across the region.
As the organisation continues to mourn, it remains determined to carry forward the humanitarian mission that defined the lives of those it lost.