Kenya safari crash kills 12; probe launched

A small tourist aircraft operating a safari route in Kenya’s coastal Kwale region crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff on Tuesday, with authorities fearing all 12 people on board have died. The aircraft, identified by officials as a Mombasa Air Safari Cessna Caravan, went down in the Tsimba Golini area, a forested, hilly zone roughly 40 kilometres from Diani airstrip where it had departed minutes earlier.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the crash and said multiple government agencies were deployed to the site to secure the wreckage and begin a formal investigation. Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud bang before seeing smoke and flames rising from the crash scene. Responders arriving at the site found debris still smouldering amid difficult terrain.

Local officials said the passengers were foreign tourists heading for the Maasai Mara National Reserve, a destination renowned for wildlife safaris and the annual wildebeest migration. Authorities have not publicly released the nationalities of those on board and said next-of-kin notifications were underway.

Kenyan police and aviation investigators cordoned off the area as specialists combed through parts of the fuselage and engine for early clues. The operator said it was coordinating with regulators and would provide further updates via official channels as facts are established.

Tourism stakeholders warned the loss would be felt across the sector, which relies heavily on scenic flights linking coastal hubs to safari camps. Officials cautioned that determining the cause will take time and urged the public to avoid speculation while the investigation proceeds.