Tragedy struck in Kenya on Tuesday morning when a light aircraft carrying 12 people crashed while flying from the coastal resort town of Diani to the world-renowned Maasai Mara National Park.
According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the aircraft went down at around 5:30 a.m. local time (02:30 GMT) while en route to Kichwa Tembo, a private airstrip located within the Maasai Mara, a top safari destination.
The KCAA confirmed that all 12 people on board were feared dead, though officials have not yet provided further details about the victims or the cause of the crash. Emergency response teams and government agencies have been deployed to the scene to begin investigations.
“The aircraft had 12 persons on board,” the KCAA said in a brief statement, adding that efforts were underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The crash has cast a shadow over Kenya’s aviation industry, which has witnessed several light aircraft incidents in recent months. In August, a plane operated by medical charity Amref Flying Doctors crashed on the outskirts of Nairobi, killing six people and leaving two others injured.
The Maasai Mara, one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife reserves, attracts thousands of tourists each year, especially during the annual wildebeest migration. Flights between Kenya’s coast and the Mara are popular among visitors seeking a swift connection between beach and bush safaris.
As authorities continue their investigations, aviation experts have called for enhanced safety measures and stricter oversight of private air operations across Kenya’s tourism corridors. The latest crash has reignited debate about maintenance standards and pilot training in the country’s growing aviation sector.
