12 Feared Dead as Kenyan Plane Crashes in Kwale County

A small passenger plane carrying 12 people crashed in a hilly, forested area of Kwale County early Tuesday while flying from the coastal resort of Diani to Kichwa Tembo in the Maasai Mara, and all on board are feared dead, Kenyan authorities said. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said the aircraft, registered 5YCCA, went down at 0530Z and government agencies have been dispatched to the scene to establish the cause and assess the impact.

The crash occurred roughly 40 kilometers from Diani airstrip, officials said. Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and finding the wreckage engulfed in flames, with charred debris at the site. Local authorities and emergency teams were conducting recovery and investigative operations on arrival, and traffic and access to the area were being managed to allow officials to work.

In a statement, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said, We wish to confirm that an aircraft, registration number 5YCCA, on its way from Diani to Kichwa Tembo, crashed at 0530Z. The aircraft had 12 persons on board. Government agencies are already on site to establish the cause of the accident and its impact. Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde said operations at...