DIANI, Kenya – A domestic flight carrying tourists to the world-renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve crashed shortly after takeoff Tuesday morning, with authorities fearing all 12 people on board have perished.
The Cessna Caravan aircraft, operated by the local carrier Mombasa Air Safari, went down in a rugged, forested area approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Diani airstrip in coastal Kwale County.
“The plane crashed and burst into flames. We fear all 12 on board have died,” said Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde in an initial statement to the press. He confirmed that the passengers were “all foreign tourists,” though their nationalities have not yet been formally released pending verification and next-of-kin notifications.
Witnesses near the crash site reported a harrowing scene. “We heard a loud bang from the sky shortly after the plane took off,” one local resident recounted. “When we rushed there, the wreckage was engulfed in fire. It was terrible.”
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has confirmed the incident and stated that a full investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.
The ill-fated flight was destined for the Maasai Mara, one of Africa’s most famous safari destinations, popular for its spectacular wildlife and the annual Great Migration.
Mombasa Air Safari issued a brief statement, confirming it was working closely with aviation authorities and that further updates would be communicated through the official channels.
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