Kenya Plane Crash
August 3, 2009 – 4:22 pmA light aircraft carrying two American filmmakers, a pilot, and a mechanic crashed Saturday, August 1, in downtown Nairobi just minutes from its destination at the Nairobi Wilson Airport.
CNN reports that “Dan Parris, 25, and Rob Lehr, 26, both from St. Louis, Missouri, were shooting an independent documentary on poverty in Africa.”
The pilot, Frank Toews, and mechanic, Ryan Williams, serve with AIM AIR, Africa Inland Mission’s aviation branch, a Christian aviation ministry which exists to “serve and sustain hundreds of missionaries and ministries throughout 8 countries in East and Central Africa.”
Dan and Rob suffered several injuries but were able to walk away from the crash site.
Ryan experienced sever injuries including “second and third degree burns on forty-fifty percent of his body. His right hand and arm are particularly bad… He has deep cuts on his face. His pelvis was crushed and his hip is broken. He cannot talk (has a tube down his throat) but does nod his head to some questions from his wife.” [via Mary Ann Weaver]
Frank, the pilot, “did not survive the accident and has gone to be with the Lord and Savior whom he loved dearly and served well.”
From Charles Mungaithi, an employee of AIM,
Myself, and everyone at AIM IS thanks you for your prayers. I would ask that you pray specifically for the recovery of those who are injured, their families, and particularly for Frank’s wife and 4 children as they trust God for strength and comfort during this difficult time.
We are trusting God, with all of you, to show Himself to be good, even beyond our expectations and understanding of what good could mean, in a situation like this.
“Ryan will be flown to the States soon to be treated at a burn unit. His wife, Dawn, cannot travel until they get the passport and visa for their newly adopted child Chloe. Please pray that this paperwork will be done speedily so she can join him as soon as possible.” [via Mary Ann Weaver]
Frank and his family used to attend and Ryan serves as a deacon at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Nairobi, a church planted by Joel and Mary Anne Weaver who are sent out by my church, Inter-City Baptist. [view the ongoing "Kenya, MKs, & Church Planting" video series for more info about Joel]
Their son Paul wrote two posts about the plane crash at his Missions in Kenya blog.
The report from NTV Kenya:
