Credited from: ALJAZEERA
A light aircraft carrying 11 people, including eight Hungarian and two German tourists, crashed in the Kwale region of Kenya, killing all on board. The plane was en route to the popular Maasai Mara National Reserve when the accident occurred early on Tuesday morning, October 28, according to India Times and Al Jazeera.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority reported the aircraft crashed at approximately 5:30 am local time, shortly after takeoff from Diani airstrip. Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud bang followed by the sight of smoldering wreckage, as emergency responders arrived at the scene to manage a fire and look for survivors, according to Reuters and BBC.
Heavy rain and poor visibility are suspected to have been contributing factors to the crash. While the initial reports indicated 12 people aboard, later confirmations adjusted this number to 11, as the pilot is also among the deceased, as stated by South China Morning Post and Africa News.
Mombasa Air Safari, the airline operating the flight, has expressed condolences and committed to cooperating with ongoing investigations. Following this tragedy, discussions around aviation safety in Kenya have resurfaced, as the country reportedly fell below global averages in accident investigations, according to India Times and Africa News.