A tragic plane crash in Kenya’s coastal region of Kwale County early Tuesday has left 11 people dead, including eight Hungarian tourists, two Germans, and a Kenyan pilot, according to officials. The aircraft, operated by Mombasa Air Safari, was en route from Diani to the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve when it went down in a hilly, forested area about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Diani airstrip.
Authorities say the crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. local time amid heavy rainfall in the area. The Cessna Caravan-type aircraft burst into flames upon impact, leaving behind charred wreckage. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion before discovering the scene strewn with debris and unrecognizable remains.
“The pilot failed to make contact with the control tower after takeoff, and efforts to reach him for 30 minutes were unsuccessful,” said Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde. The aircraft was later found destroyed, confirming the deaths of all onboard.
Initial reports from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) suggested there were 12 people on board, but the airline later confirmed the final toll as 11. Investigators from Kenya’s aviation and transport safety agencies are now working to determine the cause of the crash, though poor weather conditions are suspected to have been a contributing factor.
The flight was headed to Maasai Mara National Reserve, one of Africa’s premier safari destinations and home to the annual Great Wildebeest Migration. The two-hour flight from Diani is a common route for international tourists visiting Kenya’s iconic savanna after staying along the Indian Ocean coast.
Kenya’s aviation safety standards have faced scrutiny in recent years. A 2018 audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) showed the country fell below the global average in accident investigation preparedness.
Emergency responders and police have since secured the crash site, and recovery operations are ongoing. Officials from the Hungarian and German embassies have been notified as families of the victims are being contacted.
The tragedy marks one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Kenya in recent years, casting a shadow over the country’s tourism industry at the height of the travel season.