The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has confirmed that an aircraft registered as 5Y-CCA crashed on the morning of Tuesday, October 28, 2025, in Kwale County.
According to a statement from KCAA Director General Emile N. Arao, the aircraft, which was en route from Diani to Kichwa Tembo, went down at approximately 0530Z (8:30 a.m. local time). The authority revealed that the plane had 12 passengers on board at the time of the accident.
“The Authority wishes to confirm that an aircraft on its way from Diani to Kichwa Tembo crashed at 0530Z. Government agencies are already on site to establish the cause of the accident and its impact,” the KCAA statement read.
Investigation underway
KCAA stated that government agencies, including aviation safety and emergency response teams, have been dispatched to the crash site to conduct investigations and coordinate rescue and recovery efforts.
Although the cause of the crash remains unknown, the authority assured the public that it is working closely with relevant agencies to ensure a comprehensive and transparent investigation.
The KCAA reaffirmed its commitment to aviation safety and regulatory compliance, in line with the Kenya Civil Aviation Act and international aviation standards. Further updates will be provided once investigators complete preliminary assessments.
Previous incidents in Kwale County
This is not the first aviation accident reported in Kwale this year. On June 14, 2025, a Kenya Air Force training aircraft crashed near Mwakijembe Primary School in Ndavaya, Kinango Sub-County, with two pilots on board, both of whom are feared dead.
At the time, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) confirmed that the Grob 120A trainer aircraft had encountered an emergency during a routine training flight.
“Earlier today, 14th June 2025, a Kenya Air Force Grob 120A aircraft experienced an emergency while on a training flight in the general area of Mwakijembe Primary School, Ndavaya, Kwale County,” read the KDF statement.
Recovery efforts following that incident were led by military personnel and local authorities, though officials expressed serious concerns about the fate of the two officers involved.
The Grob 120A is a two-seater training aircraft used globally for pilot instruction, including by the Kenya Air Force.
Authorities continue to monitor developments in both cases as investigations into the causes of the crashes progress.
