Plane crash in Kenya kills 10 European tourists, pilot
A plane crash near the coast of Kenya has claimed the lives of 10 European tourists and a local pilot.
According to the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) the aircraft was flying from the beach resort in Diani to an airstrip in the Maasai Mara game park when it went down at 05:30 local time (02:30 GMT).
The crash occured in a hilly and forested area about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Diani airstrip.
Officials said that the aircraft crashed minutes after takeoff and burst into flames leaving a charred wreckage at the scene.
Witnesses told reporters that they heard a loud bang, and on arriving at the scene they found unrecognizable human remains.
The airline, Mombasa Air Safari, told the press that it was collaborating with the civil aviation body, noting that the plane was carrying eight Hungarians, two Germans and a Kenyan pilot, all of whom were killed in the crash.
“Our primary focus right now is on providing all possible support to the families affected,” it added in a statement.
Local media published images of the plane in flames, with debris scattered at the site of the crash.
Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde said the passengers were “all foreign tourists”.
The crashed plane was on its way to Kichwa Tembo, an airstrip in Maasai Mara, popular with holidaymakers because of its wildlife, Orinde told reporters, adding that the plane crashed about 10km (six miles) from Kwale town after flying out of Diani.
He said the crash which might have been caused by bad weather was currently being investigated.
“The weather is not very good here at the moment. Since early in the morning, it is raining and it is very misty, but we cannot preempt,” Orinde said.
