All 11 people aboard a Mombasa Air Safari Cessna 208B Grand Caravan have been killed after the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Kenya’s coastal Diani Airport on October 28, 2025.
The single-engine turboprop departed the seaside resort town of Diani at about 10:15 a.m. local time (07:15 UTC) bound for an airstrip near the Maasai Mara National Reserve, a popular destination for safari tourists. The aircraft went down within minutes of takeoff about 2 kilometers from the runway, bursting into flames on impact, according to local reports.
Mombasa Air Safari said in a statement that it had “activated our emergency response team” and was cooperating with Kenyan authorities. The airline confirmed there were no survivors among the 11 people on board, including eight Hungarian nationals, two Germans, and one Kenyan pilot.
Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft struggle to gain altitude before it descended rapidly into a wooded area outside Diani. Local emergency services arrived quickly at the scene, but the wreckage was engulfed in fire, making rescue efforts impossible.
Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and the Air Accident Investigation Department have launched a joint inquiry to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators are expected to analyze flight data, maintenance logs, and weather conditions at the time of departure. Initial reports indicated fair weather, though officials have not ruled out mechanical or performance issues.
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan is a widely used utility and commuter aircraft across Africa for passenger and cargo operations, valued for its reliability and short-takeoff performance. Mombasa Air Safari operates several Caravans serving destinations along Kenya’s coast and safari circuit, including the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo National Parks.
Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that eight of its citizens were among the victims, including a group of tourists traveling together. Germany’s Foreign Office said it was in contact with Kenyan authorities regarding the deaths of two German nationals.
Kenya’s Transport Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and pledged a full investigation into the cause. “This tragic event is a somber reminder of the importance of safety oversight and continuous maintenance for aircraft operating in remote regions,” he said in a statement.
Mombasa Air Safari, founded in 1974, is one of Kenya’s oldest privately operated charter airlines. It primarily flies tourists between the country’s coastal resorts and inland game reserves. The company said it would suspend operations temporarily “out of respect for the victims and their families.”
The accident is Kenya’s deadliest aviation accident in several years. In 2018, a crash involving a Fly Sax Cessna 208 killed 10 people. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has increased inspections of small-aircraft operators in recent years following accidents involving bush-tourism flights.
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