Nairobi, October 28, 2025 — A Mombasa Air Safari Cessna 208 Caravan, registration 5Y-CCA, crashed early Tuesday morning in Kwale County, Kenya, killing all 11 people on board, including 10 European tourists.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed the crash occurred at around 0530Z (8:30 a.m. local time) while the aircraft was flying from Diani Airport on Kenya’s southern coast to Kichwa Tembo Airstrip in the Maasai Mara.
According to a statement from Mombasa Air Safari, there were 10 passengers, eight Hungarians and two Germans, and one Kenyan pilot on board the aircraft. There were no survivors.
“Our hearts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragic event,” the airline said, adding that it has activated its emergency response team and established a Family Assistance Team to provide counselling and logistical support.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) had earlier confirmed the accident in a statement, saying government agencies and emergency services were dispatched to the scene to determine the cause and assess the impact.
“Government agencies are already on site to establish the cause of the accident and its impact,” the KCAA said in its official statement.
Wreckage Found in Forested Tsimba Golini Area
Local authorities said the wreckage was found in the Tsimba Golini area, a forested region roughly 40 kilometres northwest of Diani. Emergency responders from the Kenya Red Cross and Kwale County Disaster Unit were dispatched to the crash site.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke rising from the hills and said the aircraft appeared to have caught fire after impact. Videos of the burning wreckage are widely circulated on social media.
Early local reports indicate there were no survivors, though the KCAA has not yet confirmed fatalities pending formal identification.
Wreckage of Mombasa Air Safari Cessna 208 aircraft at crash site
Flight Details and Operator
The single-engine Cessna 208 Caravan, operated by Mombasa Air Safari, was conducting a charter flight popular with tourists connecting Kenya’s coast to Maasai Mara’s safari lodges. The aircraft type is widely used for regional and bush operations due to its short takeoff capability and reliability in rugged terrain.
Mombasa Air Safari, a veteran charter operator, serves numerous lodge destinations across Kenya, including Amboseli and the Masai Mara.
Mombasa Air Safari Cessna 208 Caravan 5Y-CCA under a rainbow before the accident – image via Mombasa Air Safari X (formerly Twitter) page
Investigation Underway
Government agencies have already launched an inquiry into the crash. Investigators are expected to examine weather conditions, pilot records, and maintenance logs.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the area remained cordoned off while recovery operations continued.
The accident underscores the challenges facing Kenya’s thriving charter and safari-aviation sector, which forms a lifeline between remote tourist destinations but operates under conditions that demand rigorous oversight and maintenance discipline.
Further information including the identities of the crew and passengers, and the cause of the crash, is expected as the investigation progresses.
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