Kenya plane crash kills 11 near Maasai Mara

A light plane crash has killed 11 people, mostly foreign tourists, in Kenya’s coastal region of Kwale while flying to Maasai Mara National Reserve.

The airline, Mombasa Air Safari, said in a statement yesterday that eight Hungarian and two German passengers were on board, and that the Kenyan pilot was also killed.

Mombasa Air Safari added that sadly, there are no survivors. 

There was heavy rain in coastal Kenya in the morning.

The Civil Aviation Authority said the accident happened at Kwale, near the Indian Ocean coast, at about 8:30am local time. 

The Citizen TV station said the bodies of those on board had been burned beyond recognition. 

Authorities said that the plane crashed in a hilly and forested area about 40 kilometres from Diani airstrip.

The aircraft had burst into flames, leaving a charred wreckage at the scene. 

Witnesses told foreign media that they heard a loud bang, and upon arriving at the scene, they found human remains.

Kenya's government said investigators had been sent to find out what had happened, and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban sent condolences.

Hungary's Foreign Minister said the eight Hungarians killed included two families, an acquaintance of theirs and two minors. 

He added that once they receive the official information on the identities of the victims, the next of kin will be notified.

The airline, Mombasa Air Safari, said it was cooperating with the investigations.

Source: Al Jazeera | Reuters