Plane CRASHES into a building in Utawala, Nairobi, after taking off from JKIA

A cargo plane with 4 crew members on board has this morning crashed at a commercial building in Utawala area, Nairobi.

The Fokker 50 cargo plane destined for Mogadishu, Somalia, crashed immediately after taking off from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Eric Keraithe, JKIA’s Chief of Security  said that the plane crashed shortly after take off.

“The plane first hit an electric pole then crashed into a commercial building in Embakasi before bursting into flames,” Keraithe said

Rescue efforts are underway with Kenya’s GSU on the ground assisted by Kenya Red Cross personnel although reports indicate that four were declared dead on site.

The Eastern By-Pass has been closed off until all rescue operations are over.