An Aircraft With 12 On Board Crashes in Kwale County

Kenya, 28 October 2025 - A light aircraft crashed on Tuesday morning in Kwale County, with 12 people feared dead.

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed the incident, stating that government agencies had been deployed to comb the accident scene and establish the cause of the accident and its impact.

The plane with registration number 5Y-CCA was travelling from Diani to Kichwa Tembo when it crashed at Tsimba-Matuga/Golini area at approximately 0530Z local time (about 8:30am).

Local police said the crash happened shortly after takeoff, in an area known for dense bush and hilly terrain.

Emergency responders and security teams are coordinating rescue and cleanup operations.

Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde also confirmed the crash and stated rescue and salvage efforts are under way, with teams battling difficult terrain to reach the site.

The rescuers are also battling poor weather which is complicating their efforts.

KCAA Director-General Emile Arao confirmed to The Standard that the aircraft crashed and that “foreign tourists” were among those aboard, though identities remain unverified.

Some observers at the scene report that parts of the plane caught fire upon impact, with burning wreckage visible.

5Y-CCA, is a Cessna 208 Caravan, a commonly used charter plane.

The Cessna Caravan model is widely used in coastal and safari operations due to its size and flexibility.

However, in Kenya’s coastal and forested zones, even small navigation or weather errors can lead to disasters.

Full details on the exact nationalities of those aboard, whether there were survivors, or what precisely caused the crash have not yet been confirmed.