A light aircraft carrying foreign tourists crashed in Kenya on Tuesday morning, killing all 11 people on board, authorities have confirmed.
The plane, operated by Mombasa Air Safari, was carrying 10 passengers, eight Hungarians, two Germans, and a Kenyan pilot when it went down shortly after takeoff from Diani, a resort town on Kenya’s southern coast.
"Sadly, there are no survivors. primary focus right now is on providing all possible support to the families affected," the airline said in a statement.
According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the crash occurred around 8:30 am local time (5:30 am GMT) in Kwale County, near the Indian Ocean coast.
KCAA added that the aircraft was en route to Kichwa Tembo, a lodge located within the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Local media reported that the plane burst into flames upon impact, adding that bodies of those on board were burned beyond recognition.
Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde told the BBC that poor weather conditions were hampering rescue and investigation efforts.
"The weather is not very good here at the moment. Since early in the morning, it is raining and very misty, but we cannot preempt the findings," he said.
Eyewitnesses told the Associated Press they heard a loud bang moments after the aircraft took off.
"When we ran to the site, everything was on fire. The remains were unrecognisable," one witness said.
Footage shared online showed the wreckage engulfed in flames, with debris strewn along a dirt track as emergency responders and forensic teams worked to secure the area.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the crash, though local media have speculated that poor visibility and adverse weather linked to a tropical storm may have played a role.
Kenya’s Meteorological Department had warned in recent days of an approaching storm, known as Chenge, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to the region.
The tragedy follows a separate air accident in August, when an Amref Flying Doctors plane crashed near Nairobi, killing six people and injuring two others.
More details to come...
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