A Mombasa Air Safari plane crashed and burst into flames in Vyungwani area, Matuga, Kwale County, killing all 11 people on board.
In an official statement, the airline said the accident involved its aircraft, registration number 5Y-CAA, which was operating a scheduled flight from Diani Airport to Kichwa Tembo, Maasai Mara, on Tuesday morning, October 28, 2025.
‘Mombasa Air Safari Limited deeply regrets to confirm that one of our aircraft, registration number 5Y-CAA, was involved in an accident today, the 28th October 2025, while operating a scheduled flight from Diani Airport to Kichwa Tembo, Maasai Mara,’ the airline said.
‘Sadly, there are no survivors.’
According to the airline, the fatalities included eight Hungarian nationals, two Germans, and one Kenyan crew member.
Kwale County Police Commander Abdillahi Alio confirmed the incident, saying security and rescue teams had cordoned off the area.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the aircraft took off from Diani at around 8.30am and crashed shortly after.
‘Government agencies are already on site to establish the cause of the accident and its impact,’ said Emile Arao, KCAA’s Director-General.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Loud bang
However, locals reported hearing a loud bang before spotting flames and smoke rising from the wreckage.
‘It was still very early when I heard a loud bang. I rushed to the scene and found that the plane had caught fire, and there was no one we could save,’ said Makopa Sazu, a resident of Vyungwani.
Witnesses said the area had experienced heavy overnight rain and thick fog on Tuesday morning, conditions that may have reduced visibility.
Aviation safety
The accident has renewed safety concerns over Kenya’s aviation sector, especially involving light aircraft.
In recent months, the country has witnessed several fatal air crashes. In August, an Amref Flying Doctors aircraft crashed in Mwihoko, Kiambu County, shortly after take-off from Wilson Airport, killing all six people on board.
Earlier in January, a light aircraft burst into flames after crash-landing in Malindi, killing three people on the ground, while the pilot and two students survived with injuries.
Just weeks later, on January 31, a Cessna A185F crashed at Kedong Ranch in Naivasha, Nakuru County, killing both occupants. Investigators cited low visibility and poor weather conditions at the time.
In March, a trainee pilot was killed when a light aircraft crashed at Ikanga, near Voi in Taita-Taveta County. And in June, two Kenya Defence Forces officers died when a KDF training aircraft went down in Kinango, Kwale County.