At least 12 people, including foreign tourists, are feared dead after a light aircraft crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff from the Diani Airstrip in Kenya’s coastal Kwale County on Tuesday morning.
According to officials, the Cessna Caravan aircraft, operated by Mombasa Air Safari, was en route to the Maasai Mara National Reserve when it went down in a hilly, forested area about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the airstrip.
Witnesses near the crash site reported hearing a loud explosion moments after takeoff. “When we arrived, the wreckage was in flames and the bodies were unrecognizable,” one local resident said.
In a statement, Mombasa Air Safari confirmed the incident and said it was cooperating fully with aviation and emergency authorities investigating the cause of the crash.
“Further updates will be provided through official channels as more information becomes available,” the airline authorities said.
The ill-fated flight was heading to the Maasai Mara, one of Africa’s most famous wildlife reserves, popular among international tourists for its annual wildebeest migration from Tanzania’s Serengeti Plains.
Authorities said rescue and recovery operations were ongoing at the crash site, with officials from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) assisting emergency responders.
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