Ten tourists from Hungary and Germany were killed along with their Kenyan pilot when a light aircraft crashed in southeastern Kenya on Tuesday morning, authorities said.
The plane, operated by Mombasa Air Safari, was flying from the coastal resort town of Diani to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, one of Kenya’s most popular safari destinations, when it went down at around 8:30 a.m. local time (0530 GMT), according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
The aircraft crashed in a forested area of Kwale County, about 40 kilometers west of Diani. Witnesses reported thick smoke rising from the wreckage, with debris and passengers’ clothing scattered across the site and nearby trees.
Kenya’s Transport Ministry said investigators had been dispatched to determine the cause of the crash. “An aviation accident investigation team has been mobilized to establish the circumstances leading to this tragic incident,” the ministry said in a statement.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto confirmed that eight of the victims were Hungarian citizens, including two families, a close friend of theirs, and two minors. Two German nationals were also among the dead.
“Once we receive the official information on the identities of the victims, the next of kin will be notified,” Szijjarto said during a live broadcast on YouTube.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán offered condolences to the victims’ families, calling the tragedy “a heartbreaking loss for our nation.”
Mombasa Air Safari, one of Kenya’s leading charter flight operators, said it was fully cooperating with authorities. “We are deeply saddened by this tragic event and are assisting investigators to establish the cause,” the company said in a statement.
The Maasai Mara, famed for its wildlife and annual wildebeest migration, attracts thousands of foreign tourists every year, many of whom travel by small aircraft between Kenya’s coastal and inland destinations.
Officials said recovery operations were ongoing and that the wreckage had been secured as investigators began examining possible causes, including weather conditions and mechanical failure.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
