A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft that crashed shortly after takeoff from Diani Airport in Kwale County has been identified as a 2007 model with a long operational history in East Africa.
The plane, registered as 5Y-CCA, was en route to Kichwa Tembo Airstrip in the Maasai Mara when it went down shortly after departure.
It was operating under Mombasa Air Safari, a Kenyan airline that provides regional charter and safari flights across the country.
According to records, the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan with serial number 208B-1248 was manufactured in 2007 and powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A turboprop engine.
The fixed-wing aircraft typically accommodates up to 12 occupants, including the pilot, and is favored in the region for its performance and reliability on short runways and remote airstrips.
Read More
The aircraft was initially registered in the United States as N12686 but was deregistered on June 7, 2007, likely in preparation for export.
It was subsequently registered in Tanzania as 5H-DAN, though the operator at the time remains unclear.
In March 2013, the aircraft was re-registered in Kenya as 5Y-CCA and delivered to Mombasa Air Safari where remained in active service for more than a decade.
It primarily flew domestic passengers between the coast and major tourist destinations.
Notably, no previous accidents or serious incidents involving this aircraft were recorded before 2025.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed that twelve people died in the accident that occurred in the Tsimba Golini area.
According to reports, the victims are believed to be tourists who were on board the caravan plane when it went down in the morning hours.
"Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) wishes to confirm that an aircraft registration number 5Y-CCA, on its way from Diani to Kichwa Tembo, crashed at 0530Z. The aircraft had 12 persons on board," KCAA stated in a press release.
The aviation authority added that government agencies are already on site to establish the cause of the accident and its impact.
Authorities have yet to release the identities of the victims or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the crash.
