How a Maasai Mara Trip Ended in a Fatal Plane Crash, Killing 11

Eleven people were killed on Tuesday morning when a light aircraft operated by Mombasa Air Safari crashed in Kwale County while en route from Diani to the Maasai Mara.

The single-engine Cessna Caravan, registered as 5Y-CCA, took off from Diani Airport shortly after 8.00am, heading to Kichwa Tembo Camp in Narok County. The passengers included eight Hungarian nationals, two Germans, and a Kenyan pilot.

Residents of Nyando village in Matuga sub-county, where the aircraft went down, reported hearing a loud explosion before discovering the wreckage in flames. Heavy rainfall and thick fog were reported in the area at the time, significantly reducing visibility. Locals who reached the site before emergency services found debris scattered across the muddy terrain.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed that radar contact with the aircraft was lost shortly after take-off. Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the plane was completely destroyed on impact and that all eleven occupants died at the scene. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) has launched a full inquiry into the crash.

Mombasa Air Safari, which operates charter flights to major safari destinations, confirmed the incident and stated that it is cooperating with investigators. Company chairman John Cleave said a family assistance team has been established to support the victims’ families, providing counselling and logistical help.

The crash occurred in the forested highlands of Tsimba Golini Ward, an area with poor road access and difficult terrain. Persistent rain has complicated rescue and recovery efforts, slowing the arrival of emergency and investigation teams. The Meteorological Department had issued warnings of adverse weather conditions along the Coast earlier in the week.

Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani and Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, who visited the site, expressed condolences to the victims’ families. Kipsang said the government is committed to determining the cause of the crash and ensuring accountability.

The accident is the fifth fatal light aircraft crash reported in Kenya this year.