A tragic plane crash in Tsimba-Matuga, Kwale County, has claimed the lives of 12 people who were on board a light aircraft traveling from Diani to Kichwa Tembo in the Maasai Mara.
According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the aircraft — registration number 5Y-CCA — went down on Tuesday morning shortly after takeoff from the Diani airstrip.
The plane was reportedly carrying a group of local and foreign tourists headed for a safari trip in the Maasai Mara.
KCAA Director General Emile Arao confirmed the crash, saying emergency teams were dispatched immediately to the scene.
“We can confirm that a light aircraft with 12 passengers on board has crashed in the Tsimba-Matuga area. Sadly, there are no survivors. Investigations into the cause of the crash have begun,” said Arao.
Residents of Tsimba-Matuga reported hearing a loud bang before spotting flames and thick smoke rising from a nearby forested area.
A local resident told Citizen TV that the aircraft burst into flames upon impact, scattering debris across the crash site.
“We rushed to the scene but the fire was too strong. The wreckage was burning, and it was clear no one could have survived,” said a resident identified as Fatuma Mwende.
Photos and videos shared online showed charred metal remains of the aircraft spread across the area as smoke continued to rise hours after the crash.
Teams from the Kenya Red Cross, Kwale County Disaster Response Unit, and the Kenya Police are at the scene coordinating rescue and recovery efforts.
However, officials said bad weather and rough terrain have slowed down operations. The Kenya Air Accidents Investigation Department (AAID) has also launched an inquiry to determine the cause of the crash.
Early reports suggest the aircraft may have encountered mechanical problems or turbulent weather shortly after takeoff, though officials have not confirmed this.
Kwale County Commissioner Joseph Kibet said the area has been secured and efforts are ongoing to identify the victims before notifying their families.
“We have sealed off the crash site and are working with aviation officials to recover all bodies. The remains will be transferred to the Coast General Hospital morgue for identification,” Kibet said.
The Transport Ministry has promised a full investigation to ensure such tragedies are prevented in the future.
Small aircraft are commonly used in Kenya to ferry tourists between coastal towns and wildlife destinations like the Maasai Mara.
The Diani–Mara route is especially popular during the migration season. This is one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Kenya this year.
