The aircraft that crashed shortly after takeoff from Diani Airport in Kwale County was en route to Kichwa Tembo Airstrip in the Maasai Mara, Narok County when it went down shortly after departure.
The plane crushed at Tsimba Matunga, Vyongani, Kwale.
It was established that the accident claimed 12 lives, eight of whom are from one family.
KDF officers and other security agencies joined in rescue efforts at the crashed scene in Nyando, Kwale County.
It was operating under Mombasa Air Safari, a Kenyan airline that provides regional charter and safari flights across the country.
Details Of The Airplane
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan plane is a 2007 model with a long operational history in East Africa, and registered as 5Y-CCA, and with serial number 208B-1248.
It was manufactured in 2007 and powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A turboprop engine.
The fixed-wing aircraft typically accommodates up to 12 occupants, including the pilot, and is favored in the region for its performance and reliability on short runways and remote airstrips.
The aircraft was initially registered in the United States as N12686 but was deregistered on 7th June, 2007, likely in preparation for export.
It was subsequently registered in Tanzania as 5H-DAN, though the operator at the time remains unclear.
In March 2013, the aircraft was re-registered in Kenya as 5Y-CCA and delivered to Mombasa Air Safari where it remained in active service for more than a decade.
It primarily flew domestic passengers between the coast and major tourist destinations.
Notably, no previous accidents or serious incidents involving this aircraft were recorded before 2025.
Who perished on the scene
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed that twelve people died in the accident that occurred in the Tsimba Golini area.
According to reports, the victims are believed to be tourists who were on board the caravan plane when it went down in the morning hours.
“Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) wishes to confirm that an aircraft registration number 5Y-CCA, on its way from Diani to Kichwa Tembo, crashed at 0530Z. The aircraft had 12 persons on board,” KCAA stated in a press release.
The aviation authority added that government agencies were already on site to establish the cause of the accident and its impact.
