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Four die in Nairobi cargo plane crash

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Wreckage of a Skyward cargo plane that crashed into buildings in Utawala, Nairobi on July 2, 2014. PHOTO/ FRED MUKINDA

Four people were killed Wednesday morning after a cargo plane taking off from Nairobi's main airport crashed into two buildings and burst into flames in the city's Utawala area.

The dead were all aboard the Fokker 50 plane, which was registered to Skyward airlines.

Two watchmen guarding commercial buildings on the ground were injured in the 4am incident. One was treated and discharged while the other is admitted at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.

Kenya Red Cross officials said one body had been recovered from the site, which is several kilometres from the airport.

Nairobi County police commander Benson Kibue said responders were searching the accident site for more casualties.

“The plane crash landed and burst into flames,” he said. “Four occupants were killed and we are combing through the debris to find out if there are more.”

Mr Kibue said the plane number 5Y-CET, had taken off from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport minutes before the crash and was ferrying cargo to Mogadishu, Somalia. It crashed into two empty buildings near the General Service Unit training school on the Eastern bypass. The bypass was closed to traffic as responders rushed to the scene.