Two Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel have died following the crash of a military training aircraft in Kwale County on Saturday, June 14.
The Kenya Air Force (KAF) aircraft, identified as KAF 718, went down in the Ada area of Ndavaya Ward, Kinango Sub-County, killing both occupants on board — a pilot and a student officer.
Confirming the incident, Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde said the crash occurred around 12:06pm after the aircraft had taken off from Mombasa at approximately 11:39am. It reportedly lost contact with radar while approaching Diani and subsequently went down in a remote area.
“We can confirm that two KDF officers have unfortunately lost their lives in this tragic incident. Security and emergency teams were dispatched immediately and have secured the crash site,” Orinde stated.
Local authorities, Kenya Air Force investigators, and national police officers responded swiftly, cordoning off the area and initiating recovery operations. By Saturday afternoon, the bodies of the two officers had been recovered from the wreckage.
The cause of the crash remains unknown at this stage. However, KAF officials have launched a detailed investigation to determine what led to the loss of the aircraft and the lives aboard.
Residents of Ndavaya, a relatively quiet and remote part of Kwale, reported hearing a loud bang followed by smoke rising from a thicket. Eyewitnesses said the crash site was difficult to access due to rugged terrain.
“The ground shook, and we saw black smoke. We knew something terrible had happened,” said one local resident.
Saturday’s crash adds to a growing list of incidents involving KDF aircraft in recent years, prompting renewed scrutiny of maintenance and safety procedures for military aviation in the country.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been made public, pending notification of their next of kin.
The Ministry of Defence is expected to issue an official statement in due course.
This is a developing story. Updates will follow.
