Recovery operations have resumed in Kwale County where 11 people died in a plane crash on Tuesday, as the government appeals for more equipment to aid the search and retrieval process.
Aviation Principal Secretary Teresia Mbaika, who visited the crash site in Simba area, said some body parts could be buried beneath the wreckage due to the impact that left a deep depression in the ground.
“We may have to give the Accident Investigation Department more time to comb the entire area thoroughly in line with established protocols,” she said.
The PS confirmed that DNA profiling will be conducted to help identify the victims, while the official investigation report will be published within 30 days, in accordance with international aviation standards.
Investigators returned to the site on Wednesday after operations were suspended overnight because of heavy rains.
The government is now working with the Kwale County administration to deploy additional machinery, including an excavator, to assist in the recovery effort.
“The team on the ground is coordinating with all relevant agencies to ensure the process is completed professionally,” Mbaika added, urging the public to avoid speculation as investigations continue.
The ill-fated aircraft, which was en route from Diani to the Maasai Mara, crashed in the Simba area, killing all 11 people on board.
The Kenyan government has formally reached out to Germany and Hungary as part of the investigation process, given the involvement of foreign nationals.
Authorities have described the tragedy as deeply unfortunate, pledging a transparent probe to establish the exact cause of the crash in accordance with the conventions of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
