A tragic accident claimed the lives of ten German and Hungarian tourists, along with their Kenyan pilot, when a small aircraft they were traveling in crashed on Tuesday.
The passengers were on a flight from the coastal resort town of Diani, headed toward the world-renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Officials reported that the aircraft went up in flames upon impact, leaving behind a burned-out shell in a rugged, forested part of Kenya’s Kwale region.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a powerful explosion, and when they rushed to the location, they found that the remains of the victims were unrecognizable.
Initial reports suggested the crash occurred at 05:30 local time, but later, Kenya’s transport minister clarified the incident took place at 08:35.
The operating airline, Mombasa Air Safari, revealed that the pilot stopped responding to communication shortly after takeoff. The control tower attempted to reach him for about 30 minutes before the wreckage was located.
Investigators from the aircraft accident investigation department have been dispatched to the crash site to begin a formal inquiry.
Authorities emphasized that ensuring aviation safety remains the Kenyan government’s highest priority.
Maasai Mara, located west of the coast, is typically a two-hour direct flight from Diani. The reserve draws thousands of visitors annually, especially during the famous wildebeest migration from Tanzania’s Serengeti.
