Kenya Plane Crash Kills 11: Eight Hungarians, Two Germans, and Kenyan Pilot Perish En Route to Maasai Mara
A light aircraft operated by Mombasa Air Safari crashed shortly after takeoff from Diani Airport in coastal Kenya on Tuesday morning, October 28, claiming the lives of all 11 people on board—eight Hungarian tourists, two Germans, and the Kenyan pilot.
The Cessna Caravan (registration 5Y-CCA) was en route to the Maasai Mara National Reserve when it plummeted into a hilly, forested area in Kwale County, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the airstrip, bursting into flames amid heavy rain and poor visibility.
The airline confirmed in a statement: “Sadly, there are no survivors,” expressing devastation and pledging full cooperation with investigators. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud bang moments after the plane lifted off at 5:30 a.m. local time, with the wreckage secured by security officials as firefighters battled the blaze. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) initially reported 12 on board but revised to 11, noting the crash site’s challenging terrain delayed access.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó revealed the victims included two families and an acquaintance, with two children among them, and dispatched a consul to assist. German authorities are coordinating repatriation, with the tragedy drawing condolences from both nations’ leaders. Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde attributed the incident to adverse weather, with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority launching a probe into possible mechanical failure or pilot error.
This marks Kenya’s deadliest aviation accident in 2025, following a July medical plane crash that killed six. Mombasa Air Safari, specializing in safari charters, previously suffered a 2012 Maasai Mara crash that killed four.
The Maasai Mara, famed for the Great Migration, attracts 300,000 visitors yearly, but such incidents underscore risks in remote airstrips.
Global tributes poured in, with the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen calling it “heartbreaking.” Families await answers as investigations unfold, a somber note for Kenya’s tourism sector.
