Mombasa Air Safari Limited has confirmed that ten foreign
nationals and one Kenyan were killed in a plane crash on Tuesday while en route
from Diani Airport to Kichwa Tembo in the Maasai Mara.
In an official statement, the airline said the aircraft,
registration number 5Y-CCA, was operating a scheduled flight when it was
involved in an accident. There were no survivors.
According to the company, the passengers included eight
Hungarians and two Germans, along with one Kenyan crew member, who was the
captain of the aircraft.
“We are profoundly saddened to report that there are no
survivors. Our hearts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragic
event,” the statement read.
The airline confirmed that it has activated its emergency
response team and is working closely with relevant authorities, who have begun
investigations into the cause of the crash.
“Our primary focus right now is on providing all possible
support to the families affected,” said John Cleave, the company’s Chairman.
A Family Assistance Team has been set up to offer
counselling, logistical coordination, and any required support to the relatives
of the victims.
Mombasa Air Safari said they will provide further updates as
more details emerge, and to continue cooperating with investigating
authorities.
The caravan plane had taken off from Diani airport and
was headed for Kichwa Tembo when it crashed in the morning hours, police said.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known.
Police and other emergency service providers rushed to the
scene soon after the crash, locals said.
The airline operates between Mombasa and other tourist
destinations in the country.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed that an
aircraft crashed at 0530 hours.
“Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) wishes to confirm
that an aircraft registration number 5Y-CCA, on its way from Diani to Kichwa
Tembo, crashed at 0530Z.
“The aircraft had 12 persons on board. Government agencies
are already on site to establish the cause of the accident and its impact,”
Director General Emile Arao said.
The single-engine turboprop, built in 2007, was a Cessna
208B Grand Caravan, a model widely regarded as one of the most dependable
utility aircraft in the world.
It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114A engine and
configured for both passenger and cargo operations, capable of carrying up to
12 people depending on load and balance.
The plane that crashed in Kwale County on Tuesday morning
had operated safely in Kenyan skies for over a decade.
