Plane Crash in Kwale where12 People have perished.[Courtesy]
A light aircraft carrying tourists to the renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve crashed earlier today in Kwale County, along Kenya’s coast, with all 12 people on board feared dead.
The Cessna 208 aircraft, operated by Mombasa Air Services and bearing registration number 5Y-CCA, went down in the Tsimba Golini area near Vyongwani, shortly after taking off from Diani in the morning.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed the fatal incident, stating the aircraft was en route from Diani to the Kichwa Tembo airstrip in the Maasai Mara when it crashed at approximately 0530Z (8:30 am local time).
“Kenya Civil Aviation Authority wishes to confirm that an aircraft, registration number 5Y-CCA, on its way from Diani to Kichwa Tembo crashed at 0530Z,” the agency said in a statement. “The aircraft had 12 persons on board. Government agencies are already on site to establish the cause of the accident and its impact.”
Kwale County Commissioner Steven Orinde confirmed that all 12 victims—believed to be foreign tourists heading to the popular wildlife park—died in the crash. The identities and nationalities of the victims are pending official confirmation as authorities notify next of kin.
Police and emergency response teams were deployed rapidly to the crash site, which is described as a hilly area approximately 40 kilometres from the Diani airstrip. Footage from the scene showed the wreckage engulfed in flames with debris scattered widely across the area.
The cause of the tragedy is not yet officially determined. While KCAA has launched a full investigation, preliminary reports and local media suggest that poor visibility and unfavourable weather conditions in the area may have been contributing factors to the fatal accident. The Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID) is expected to lead the technical inquiry into the exact circumstances of the crash.
