Details of the kwale plane crash
A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft that tragically crashed shortly after taking off from Diani Airport in Kwale County has been identified as a 2007 model, boasting a long history of service in East Africa.
The plane, with the registration number 5Y-CCA, was headed to Kichwa Tembo Airstrip in the Maasai Mara when it went down just after departure.
It was operating under Mombasa Air Safari, a Kenyan airline known for offering regional charter and safari flights throughout the country.
According to the records, the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, with the serial number 208B-1248, rolled off the production line in 2007 and is equipped with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A turboprop engine.
This fixed-wing aircraft can typically carry up to 12 people, including the pilot, and is a popular choice in the area due to its impressive performance and reliability, especially on short runways and in remote locations.
The aircraft was initially registered in the United States as N12686 but was deregistered on June 7, 2007, likely in preparation for export.
The aircraft was later registered in Tanzania under the name 5H-DAN, although it’s still unclear who was operating it at that time.
In March 2013, it was re-registered in Kenya as 5Y-CCA and handed over to Mombasa Air Safari, where it continued to serve actively for over ten years.
Its main role was to transport domestic passengers between the coast and popular tourist spots.
Interestingly, there were no recorded accidents or serious incidents involving this aircraft prior to 2025.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has confirmed that twelve people lost their lives in the tragic accident that took place in the Tsimba Golini area.
Reports suggest that the victims were likely tourists who were on board the caravan plane when it crashed in the early morning 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,” KCAA stated in a press release.
The aviation authority added that government agencies are already on site to establish the cause of the accident and its impact.
Authorities have yet to release the identities of the victims or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Details of the kwale plane crash
