Crash scene of the Malindi aircraft accident/SCREENGRABThree people died when a light aircraft crashed on Friday in Malindi at Kwachocha area, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has said.
In a statement Friday evening, KCAA Director General Emile Arao said the fatalities were all on the ground when the aircraft came down along the Malindi-Mombasa highway.
“Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) wishes to confirm that an aircraft registration number SY-CDC, crashed 2km from Malindi airport at 2.52 pm.
“The aircraft had three people on board who survived and were rushed to the nearest hospital. Meanwhile, regrettably, there were three fatalities on the ground. Government agencies are already on site to establish the cause of the accident,” Arao said.
Separate reports indicated that those on board were a pilot, an instructor and a student.
They sustained minor injuries and were rushed to Twafiq Hospital in Malindi for treatment, the reports added.
The cause of the crash at a busy roadside stage was yet to be established. Police in Kilifi county said the fatalities were two boda boda riders and a pillion passenger.
The incident drew a large crowd and caused traffic congestion along the stretch of the road.
Footage shared online showed parts of the aircraft lying on the road with a huge flame close by, indicating that it burst into flames on impact.
Separate images showed makuti structures near the scene of the crash also caught fire.
The flames were eventually put out by fire engines from Kenya Airports Authority and Malindi Municipality, exposing what appeared to be charred human remains at the scene.
It is one of the deadliest air disasters witnessed in Kenya in recent times.
On April 18, 2024, a military helicopter crashed in Elgeyo Marakwet county, killing 10 people, including the then Chief of Defence Forces, General Francis Ogolla.
On September 16, 2024, a chartered flight carrying 10 passengers and a crew member crashed during takeoff in Migori, but there were no injuries or fatalities.