Aircraft en route to Maasai Mara carrying 12 foreign tourists, burst into flames after takeoff from Kenya’s coast, investigators probing cause of tragedy.
A small passenger aircraft carrying 12 foreign tourists crashed shortly after takeoff in Kenya on Tuesday November 4, 2025, killing everyone on board, local authorities said. The Cessna Caravan, operated by local carrier Mombasa Air Safari, burst into flames after going down in a hilly, forested area near the Diani airstrip in the coastal county of Kwale.
Officials confirmed the plane was heading toward the Maasai Mara National Reserve, one of Africa’s premier wildlife attractions, renowned for the annual wildebeest migration across the Serengeti ecosystem. The flight crashed approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from its point of departure, shortly after 8 a.m. local time.
Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde told the Associated Press that all passengers were believed to be foreign tourists, but their nationalities had yet to be verified. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) also confirmed there were 12 people onboard and that an investigation into the cause of the crash had begun.
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Eyewitnesses near the crash site reported hearing “a loud bang” moments after the aircraft took off. When they arrived at the scene, they found the wreckage engulfed in flames, with no signs of survivors. Rescuers described the remains as “unrecognizable.”
Mombasa Air Safari, a prominent safari flight operator, issued a brief statement expressing deep sorrow over the incident. The airline said it was cooperating fully with aviation authorities and would release more information as it became available.
Aviation officials have cordoned off the crash site as they work to piece together what happened. Investigators are expected to focus on a range of factors, including weather conditions, pilot communications, and potential mechanical failure.
Though Kenya is a major destination for international tourism, fatal aviation incidents involving small charter or safari flights are rare. The Maasai Mara, where the ill-fated aircraft was headed, remains one of the continent’s most visited wildlife reserves, drawing visitors worldwide during peak safari season.
Authorities said the identities of the passengers, as well as further details on their travel plans, will be released following next-of-kin notification.
The accident marks one of the deadliest aviation incidents in Kenya in recent years and has cast a shadow over the tourism sector as the country prepares for its high travel season.
Officials are expected to release a preliminary investigation report in the coming days.
