11 dead as tourist plane crashes in Kenya

A small passenger plane carrying foreign tourists has crashed in Kwale County, Kenya, killing all 11 people on board.

The aircraft, owned by Mombasa Air Safari, was flying from Diani Beach to the Maasai Mara National Reserve when it lost contact with air control and went down in a forest area about 40 kilometers from the Diani airstrip.

Officials said the plane caught fire after the crash, leaving no survivors. Those on board included 10 foreign tourists, mostly from Germany and Hungary, and a Kenyan pilot.

Emergency teams reached the crash site but found the wreckage badly burnt. Investigators say bad weather and poor visibility may have caused the accident, though the exact reason is still under investigation.

Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the incident and promised a full report once investigations are complete.

“It is a sad day for us. We have lost innocent lives, and our thoughts are with the families of those affected,” said Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.

The German and Hungarian embassies are working with Kenyan officials to identify the victims and arrange the return of their remains.

The crash has brought deep sorrow to Kenya’s tourism industry, which attracts many visitors to its beaches and wildlife parks each year.

By Precious Ekechi