The aircraft, which crashed in Kwale County on Tuesday morning, had operated safely in Kenyan skies for over a decade.
According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the aircraft, tail number 5Y-CCA, went down shortly after take-off from Diani Airstrip in Kwale County.
The aircraft was headed for Kichwa Tembo Airstrip in the Maasai Mara, a popular route for safari tourists.
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.
A check on aviation records shows the aircraft’s serial number was 208B-1248.
It began life in the United States as N12686, later flew in Tanzania under registration 5H-DAN, before being registered in Kenya in March 2013 as 5Y-CCA.
It had since been operated by Mombasa Air Safari, a charter firm best known for ferrying visitors between coastal resorts and inland game lodges.
The company’s fleet of Grand Caravans, including 5Y-CCA, was trusted for its rugged design, a high-wing configuration ideal for short, unpaved runways typical of safari destinations.
Aviation experts say the aircraft type has an impressive safety record globally, with most incidents attributed to weather and operational factors rather than mechanical failure.
Eyewitnesses and local officials reported that heavy rain and poor visibility blanketed parts of Kwale County at the time of the crash.
The aircraft is said to have gone down in a forested, hilly area of Tsimba Golini, roughly 10km inland from the coast.
Rescue teams from the Kenya Red Cross, the Kenya Air Force, and KCAA investigators were quickly dispatched to the scene, though access proved difficult due to the terrain and weather.
Officials said all 12 people on board, mostly believed to be tourists, were feared dead.
The wreckage was located several hours later, confirming that the aircraft was “completely destroyed on impact.”
Sources close to the investigation say early data points to deteriorating weather shortly after departure from Diani, a known challenge for coastal flights during the morning hours.
Cessna’s Grand Caravan has long been a workhorse of African aviation, valued for its versatility and reliability.
With a cruise speed of about 180 knots (333 km/h) and a range of 1,200 kilometres, it is built for low-cost, short-haul missions, from bush airstrips to bustling airports.
It is also one of the few aircraft types certified to operate safely in remote regions with minimal infrastructure.
The KCAA has since launched a full investigation in collaboration with other agencies.
“Government agencies are already on site to establish the cause of the accident and its impact,” reads a brief statement for KCAA Director General Emile Arao.
