Twelve people are feared dead after a light aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff at Tsimba area in Kwale County on Tuesday morning.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) in a statement informed that the incident took place at around 5:30 a.m. when the plane with registration 5Y-CCA, a flight from Diani in Kwale County to Kichwa Tembo in the Maasai Mara, went down.
At the crash site, photos took the flames to the wreckage of the aircraft, which was the main focus, while pieces of the plane were strewn across the area. Locals and first responders who arrived at the scene as the fire was being put out helped to rescue those in danger as the authorities started their operations.
According to KCAA, the reason for the plane crash is still a mystery, but it said that government and investigation officers are already at the scene to find out the cause and see the parts that are damaged.
“The Authority, together with the other agencies, is carrying out inquiries to determine the cause of the accident,” KCAA said.
As officials strive to verify the identities of those on board and account for the dead, the tragic occurrence has elicited a massive wave of worry from the aviation community and the people living in the coastal region.
Authorities have appealed to the public to refrain from visiting the scene so that emergency personnel and investigators can perform their duties without hindrance.