12 FEARED DEAD IN KENYA LIGHT AIRCRAFT CRASH
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At least 12 people are feared dead after a light aircraft crashed on Tuesday morning in Kenya’s coastal region of Kwale County, authorities have confirmed.
According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the plane, with registration number 5Y-CCA, departed from Diani Airstrip in Kwale en route to Kichwa Tembo in Narok County before it went down at about 5:30 a.m. in the Tsimba Golini area.
Witnesses said the aircraft crashed in a hilly, forested area roughly 40 kilometres from the coast and burst into flames immediately after impact. Rescue workers and local residents who arrived at the scene said the wreckage was completely burned, making it difficult to identify the victims.
Kwale County Commissioner, Stephen Orinde, told reporters that all 12 occupants on board were believed to be foreign tourists, although their nationalities have not yet been confirmed. He added that emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the crash site.
Officials from the KCAA and the Kenya Air Accident Investigation Department have launched an inquiry to determine the cause of the crash. Preliminary findings suggest that the aircraft might have encountered mechanical difficulties shortly after take-off, though investigators have not ruled out other factors such as weather conditions or pilot error.
In a statement, the KCAA said, “The Authority confirms that a light aircraft, registration 5Y-CCA, crashed shortly after departing from Diani Airstrip. A search and rescue team is at the scene, and an investigation has commenced to establish the circumstances leading to the accident.”
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Images shared on social media showed thick smoke rising from the crash site as emergency responders battled to contain the fire. The charred remains of the aircraft were later cordoned off as investigators began collecting evidence.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to aviation safety in Kenya, particularly among privately operated charter and tourist flights that frequently shuttle passengers to national parks and coastal resorts.
This is one of the deadliest small-plane accidents in the country in recent years. In a similar incident in 2024, several people died when a light aircraft crashed in the Rift Valley region under poor weather conditions.
Authorities say efforts are ongoing to recover the remains of the victims and notify their families, while a full investigation is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
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