A small aircraft carrying Hungarian citizens crashed early on Tuesday morning off the coast of Kenya in Kwale County, killing all eleven people on board. According to authorities, the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan had ten passengers and a pilot; eight of the passengers were Hungarian nationals, two were German, and the pilot was Kenyan.
The 2007-built aircraft took off from Ukunda Diani Airport and was bound for the Maasai Mara National Park, a popular destination among tourists. Minutes after takeoff, the plane lost altitude for reasons that have not yet been determined and crashed in a wooded area around 40 kilometres from the airport, where it caught fire. The Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
The operator of the aircraft, Mombasa Air Safari, said the pilot did not establish radio contact with air traffic control after takeoff, and that it took approximately thirty minutes for the aircraft’s location to be identified. The company stated that it will set up a family support group for the relatives of the victims and will cooperate fully with the authorities during the investigation.
Local reports described a large explosion at the time of the crash. By the time rescue teams reached the site, the aircraft had been completely consumed by flames, and only unrecognizable human remains were recovered from the wreckage.
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó confirmed that two minors were among the Hungarian victims. He stated that the Hungarian passengers belonged to two families and one acquaintance travelling with them. The identification process is ongoing, with relatives already notified. He added that he had spoken with his Kenyan counterpart, and that the consul of the Hungarian embassy in Nairobi was travelling to the crash site to assist.
‘We will provide every possible support to the families concerned,’ Szijjártó said.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed his condolences, noting that Hungary would do everything in its power to support the affected families. President Tamás Sulyok also conveyed his sympathy.
While no official cause of the crash has yet been given, heavy rainfall was reported in the coastal region at the time of the accident, according to AP. The full investigation is expected to take several weeks or even months.
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