SRINAGAR: A small aircraft carrying foreign tourists crashed and caught fire in Kenya’s Kwale County on Tuesday, killing all 11 people on board, authorities confirmed, as reported by CNN.
The Cessna Caravan, operated by a local tour company, went down shortly after taking off from Diani airstrip, a popular coastal destination located about 30 kilometres south of Mombasa. The aircraft was reportedly en route to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, one of Kenya’s most frequented safari destinations.
Police and rescue officials said the plane burst into flames upon impact in a forested area near the coastal settlement of Mwaluganje. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by thick plumes of smoke rising from the crash site.
“All 11 occupants — including tourists of various nationalities and two Kenyan crew members — perished in the crash,” said Coast Regional Police Commander Frederick Kinoti as quoted by AP. “Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the accident.”
Emergency responders, including Kenya Red Cross personnel, rushed to the site but were unable to rescue any survivors due to the intensity of the fire. The wreckage has been secured as aviation and security teams begin a full-scale probe.
Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed that the aircraft had been cleared for flight and was operating under fair weather conditions at the time. A technical team has been dispatched to conduct a preliminary assessment of the wreckage and flight records.
President William Ruto expressed condolences to the victims’ families, describing the incident as a “tragic loss” and promising a transparent investigation. “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate crash,” he said in a statement.
The accident marks one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in Kenya in recent years, reviving concerns about air safety standards in the country’s growing tourism and charter flight sectors.
