Aircraft disappeared from radar minutes after take-off. Cause still under investigation.
Nairobi | Two Kenya Air Force officers have died after a military aircraft crashed in the Kinango area of Kwale County on Saturday, officials confirmed.
The fixed-wing plane had taken off from Moi Air Base in Mombasa at 11:39 a.m. and was last tracked near Diani, on the southern coast, before disappearing from radar. The crash occurred at approximately 12:06 p.m., about 27 minutes into the flight.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has yet to release the names of the deceased, pending notification of next of kin.
The aircraft went down in a sparsely populated area near Ndavaya. Locals reported seeing smoke shortly after hearing what they described as an “unusual loud sound” above the hills.
Emergency crews, including KDF crash investigators, rushed to the scene soon after wreckage was spotted. Recovery operations were still ongoing as of Saturday evening. The number of personnel on board at the time of the crash has not been officially disclosed.
Brigadier Zipporah Kioko, the KDF spokesperson, said a thorough investigation had been launched. “We are working with all relevant teams to establish the cause of this tragic incident,” she said in a brief statement. “We ask for patience as we verify the facts.”
Incidents involving military aircraft are not uncommon in Kenya. The country’s air force operates several older models, many dating back to the 1970s and 1980s. While the government has occasionally signalled intentions to modernise the fleet, concerns persist over maintenance and airworthiness.
A retired air force engineer who spoke to press on condition of anonymity said ageing planes continue to pose challenges. “These aircraft weren’t designed for this kind of sustained use without major overhauls,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not about how long the plane can fly, but whether we’ve done everything to ensure it should still be flying.”
Saturday’s crash adds to a growing list of fatal military aviation accidents in Kenya. In 2021, a helicopter carrying troops in Kajiado County crashed during a training mission, killing at least 10 soldiers. In 2022, another fixed-wing aircraft crash-landed in Elgeyo Marakwet but the crew survived.
As investigations continue, questions remain over Kenya’s military preparedness and the resources allocated to air safety. Still, for now, the focus remains on recovering the remains and supporting the families of the fallen.
The Ministry of Defence said it would provide updates as more details emerge.
