A small aircraft carrying 12 people crashed early Tuesday, October 28, in Kenya’s Kwale County, along the coast, while en route to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, leaving all passengers feared dead, authorities confirmed.
The Cessna Caravan-type plane, operated by Mombasa Air Safari, went down in a hilly, forested area approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Diani Airstrip, shortly after takeoff.
– A Cessna 208 aircraft operated by Mombasa Air Safari crashed shortly after takeoff from Diani Airport in Kwale County, Kenya, while en route to Kichwa Tembo Airstrip. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the 10 passengers and 2 crew members were killed in the… pic.twitter.com/tnqVkwkuB7
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Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde told The Associated Press that the victims were “all foreign tourists,” adding that officials were working to confirm their nationalities.
According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), there were 12 people onboard, though it did not immediately specify the number of passengers and crew. The authority has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion before discovering the burning wreckage, describing the scene as devastating. “The aircraft crashed minutes after takeoff and burst into flames, leaving a charred wreckage,” an official confirmed.
Witnesses told The Associated Press they found unrecognizable human remains at the crash site.
In a statement, Mombasa Air Safari said it was “working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority” and would release updates through official channels.
The Maasai Mara National Reserve, located in southwestern Kenya, is one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife destinations, famous for its annual wildebeest migration from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Investigations into the tragic crash are ongoing.
(AP)
