NAIROBI: A small plane crashed in coastal Kwale region of Kenya early Tuesday while flying to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, leaving 12 people feared dead, officials said.
Authorities said the aircraft went down in a hilly, forested area about 40 kilometers from the Diani airstrip. Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde told the Associated Press that all passengers were foreign tourists, though their nationalities had yet to be confirmed.
According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, the Cessna Caravan-type aircraft was carrying 12 people. Officials said the plane crashed just minutes after takeoff and burst into flames, leaving a charred wreck at the site. The exact number of passengers and crew members was not immediately known.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion before discovering the wreckage and unrecognizable human remains.
Mombasa Air Safari, the airline operating the plane in Kenya, said it was working with the aviation authority and would release updates as the investigation continues.
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of Kenya’s top tourist destinations, famous for its annual wildebeest migration from Tanzania’s Serengeti.
