12 Killed in Kwale Plane Crash.

Kwale, Kenya.

A light aircraft operated by Mombasa Air Safari crashed in a forested area of Kwale County on Tuesday morning, killing all 12 people on board, officials have confirmed.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the Cessna 208 Caravan, registration 5Y-CCA, went down at around 8:30 a.m. local time (05:30 Zulu) in the Tsimba Golini area near Vyongani Forest.

The aircraft was operating as flight RRV203 from Diani Airstrip to Kichwa Tembo Airstrip in the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

“All 12 occupants – ten passengers and two crew members — perished in the crash,” the authority said in a statement.

Kwale County Police Commander Abdillahi Alio confirmed the aircraft went down shortly after takeoff, in a densely wooded area that made initial access difficult for rescue teams.

Emergency crews comprising police, firefighters, and medical personnel reached the site and later airlifted the remains to Ukunda.

“The wreckage was completely burned after impact,” Alio said, adding that debris was scattered across the crash site.

Wreckage of the Mombasa Air Safari Cessna 208 lies in the forests of Kwale — all 12 on board lost their lives in the tragic crash.

Mombasa Air Safari, which operates charter flights linking Kenya’s coastal and safari destinations, has suspended all operations pending investigations.

The victims are believed to include international tourists, though authorities have yet to release their identities until next of kin are notified.

The KCAA and the Air Accident Investigation Department have launched a joint probe to determine the cause of the crash. No preliminary findings have been released.

This marks Kenya’s fourth fatal aviation incident in 2025, raising renewed concerns over flight safety in the country’s domestic tourism circuit.

Kwale County Commissioner Miriam Chepkoech extended condolences to the bereaved families, saying:

“This is a profound tragedy. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives. We are committed to supporting a thorough investigation.”