Kwale, Kenya – A tragic plane crash in Kwale County on Tuesday morning claimed the lives of all 11 people on board, authorities have confirmed.
The aircraft, a Mombasa Air Safari plane with registration number 5Y-CCA, went down in the Tsimba-Matuga area of Matuga Constituency shortly after takeoff from Diani Airstrip. It was reportedly en route to Kichwa Tembo in the Maasai Mara when the tragedy struck.
According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the plane was carrying tourists when it crashed under unclear circumstances. KCAA Director General Emile Arao confirmed the incident, noting that investigations had already begun to establish the cause of the accident.
“The aircraft, a Cessna Caravan operated by Mombasa Air Safari, was on a scheduled flight from Diani to Maasai Mara when it lost contact and crashed in the Tsimba-Matuga area. Our investigation teams are already on site,” said Mr. Arao.
Eyewitnesses and early responders described a devastating scene, saying the plane erupted into flames immediately upon impact.
“It burst into flames after crashing. We could see smoke from a distance,” one witness told Citizen TV.
Photos and videos from the crash site show twisted metal and burning wreckage scattered across a forested area. Security teams and emergency responders rushed to the site to conduct rescue and recovery operations, but poor weather conditions reportedly slowed their efforts.
All 11 Occupants Perish
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir later confirmed that all 11 people on board—including the pilot—had perished in the crash.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm there were no survivors in the aircraft that went down this morning in Kwale. All 11 occupants suffered fatal injuries,” Chirchir said in a statement.
He added that a team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) had been deployed to conduct a comprehensive on-site investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Foreign Tourists Among Victims
In a separate statement, Mombasa Air Safari confirmed that 10 of the 11 victims were passengers—eight Hungarian nationals and two Germans—alongside the Kenyan pilot.
“Sadly, there are no survivors. Our hearts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragic event,” the airline said.
The company added that its emergency response team had been activated and that it was cooperating fully with investigators and local authorities.
“Our primary focus right now is on providing all possible support to the families affected,” the statement read.
Investigation Underway
Officials from the KCAA and AAID are expected to examine flight data, weather patterns, and aircraft maintenance records as part of their investigation.
Preliminary reports indicate that bad weather may have played a role in the crash, although this has not yet been officially confirmed. The Cessna Caravan aircraft model involved in the crash is commonly used for domestic tourist charter flights and is known for its reliability and versatility.
Meanwhile, the Kwale County Security Committee and local administrators have cordoned off the area as recovery efforts continue. Bodies of the victims are being moved to the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue in Mombasa.
Condolences and Reactions
Messages of condolence have poured in from across Kenya and abroad following the tragedy. Tourism operators have expressed shock, noting that the accident comes during a period of high tourist activity along Kenya’s coast and in the Maasai Mara.
“This is a heartbreaking incident for our tourism fraternity. We stand with the families of the victims and the Mombasa Air Safari team during this difficult time,” said a representative of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO).
As investigations continue, the government has urged Kenyans to avoid spreading unverified information about the crash on social media and to respect the privacy of the affected families.
