12 Dead in Kenya Plane Crash — Cessna Caravan Down in Kwale County

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Kwale County, Kenya — October 28, 2025

A Mombasa Air Safari aircraft crashed early Tuesday morning in Kenya’s coastal region, killing all 12 people on board, including ten foreign tourists and Kenyan pilot.

The aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (registration 5Y-CCA), departed Diani Airstrip in Kwale County en route to Kichwa Tembo Airstrip in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. According to Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) officials, communication with the pilot was lost shortly after takeoff, and attempts to reach the aircraft for nearly thirty minutes were unsuccessful.

The wreckage was later discovered in a hilly, forested area about 40 km from Diani, during a period of heavy rainfall and thick mist.

The Victims

Authorities confirmed that the passengers included eight Hungarians and two Germans, along with the Kenyan pilots. All were part of a safari group headed for the Maasai Mara, one of Kenya’s most visited tourist destinations.

Aircraft and Technical Details

The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, serial number 208B-1248, was built in 2007 and powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114A engine. The aircraft was initially registered in the United States as N12686, later operating in Tanzania as 5H-DAN, before being registered in Kenya in 2013.








The Caravan is a single-engine turboprop designed for short-haul regional flights and is widely used for tourism and charter operations across East Africa. The model has an excellent service record but requires strict adherence to weather and loading limitations, especially in challenging terrain.

Weather and Conditions

At the time of the crash, Kwale County was experiencing heavy rain, low visibility, and mist, conditions that are common along the coastal region during this period. Early reports suggest the aircraft may have encountered severe weather shortly after takeoff, although investigators have not ruled out other contributing factors such as technical failure or human error.

Investigation Underway

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Kenya Transportation Safety Authority have launched a joint investigation into the crash.

Wreckage of 5Y-CCA

Wreckage recovery and black box retrieval efforts are ongoing, though early images show extensive damage to the airframe.





A Tragic Reminder

This crash is a sobering reminder that even short regional hops can turn deadly when weather, terrain, and communication failures align. While investigators work to establish the cause, the tragedy reinforces the need for improved oversight, better technology, and stronger safety culture within East Africa’s growing tourism aviation sector.

Follow Aviation2Day for more aviation news and safety insights.

Press release from the KCAA


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