Kenya Plane Crash Kills 11 Tourists and Crew En Route to Maasai Mara

A small passenger aircraft carrying foreign tourists crashed in Kenya’s coastal Kwale County on Tuesday morning, killing all 11 people on board, officials confirmed. The Cessna Grand Caravan, operated by Mombasa Air Safari, was flying from Diani Beach to the Maasai Mara National Reserve when it went down in a forested hilly area about 40 kilometers from its departure point.

Authorities said the aircraft lost contact shortly after takeoff and later burst into flames on impact, leaving behind charred wreckage. Among the victims were eight Hungarian nationals, two Germans, and the Kenyan pilot, according to initial reports.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) stated that the crash occurred around 8:35 a.m. local time, amid heavy rainfall that may have contributed to poor visibility. A full investigation is underway to determine the cause, with officials examining flight data and weather conditions.

Emergency responders and investigators reached the remote crash site hours later due to difficult terrain. The Transport Ministry said coordination efforts are ongoing with foreign embassies and local tourism operators to assist families of the victims.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about aviation safety in Kenya, where recent audits have highlighted gaps in air accident oversight. The Maasai Mara, one of Africa’s top safari destinations, regularly receives charter flights from the coast — making Tuesday’s crash a devastating blow to the country’s tourism sector.