Victims of Kwale air crash are from Hungary, German

The victims of a plane that crashed in Tsimba area, Kwale County, were identified as tourists from Hungary and German.

This follows a tragedy that struck on Tuesday morning when a light aircraft operated by Mombasa Air Safari Limited crashed in the coastal county of Kwale, killing all 11 people on board.

According to a statement from the airline, the aircraft, registration number 5Y-CCA, was on a scheduled flight from Diani Airport to Kichwa Tembo in the Maasai Mara when the accident occurred.

Preliminary reports indicate that the plane was carrying 10 passengers, including eight Hungarian nationals and two Germans, along with a Kenyan pilot.

“There are no survivors,” Mombasa Air Safari confirmed in a statement.

The airline said it has activated its emergency response team and is working closely with authorities to determine the cause of the crash.

“Our hearts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragic event,” the company said.

Rescue teams from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Kenya Red Cross, and local authorities were dispatched to the crash site shortly after the incident was reported.

Wreckage of the aircraft was found scattered across a hilly area of Kwale, with emergency crews working into the evening to recover bodies and secure the site.

Local residents said they heard a loud explosion moments before spotting smoke rising from the forested area.

“We rushed to the scene but the fire was too strong,” said one villager who witnessed the aftermath.

Kenyan aviation authorities have since launched a joint investigation with representatives from Hungary, Germany, and the aircraft manufacturer to establish the cause of the accident.

The crash is one of the deadliest involving a domestic charter flight in Kenya in recent years.

Mombasa Air Safari, which operates scheduled and charter flights to several tourist destinations across Kenya, expressed “profound sorrow” and said a Family Assistance Team had been set up to provide counselling and logistical support to relatives of the victims.

The cause of the accident remains the main focus for now, officials said.