KDF Mourns After Deadly Plane Crash in Kwale County
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has expressed deep sorrow following the tragic loss of two Kenya Air Force pilots who died in a plane crash on Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Kwale County.
In an official statement released on Sunday morning, KDF confirmed that the unfortunate incident happened during a routine training mission.
The two officers were flying a Kenya Air Force Grob 120A aircraft when it encountered an emergency situation mid-air.
According to KDF, the aircraft went down near Mwakijembe Primary School in Mafundani village, within the Ndavaya area of Kinango, Kwale County.
Following the accident, KDF dispatched investigation teams to the crash site to determine what caused the emergency and ultimately led to the crash.
“On Saturday, June 14th, 2025, a Kenya Air Force Grob 120A aircraft was involved in a training mission when it experienced an in-flight emergency and crashed in the general area of Mwakijembe Primary School, Mafundani village, Kwale County.
On board were two pilots,” read part of the KDF statement. “We are deeply saddened to confirm the loss of both pilots in the crash.
The Kenya Air Force has already deployed investigation teams to the scene to investigate and establish the root cause of the crash.
May the Almighty rest the souls of our departed heroes in eternal peace and comfort their families during this difficult and painful time.”
As of now, KDF has not released the names of the deceased pilots, nor has it provided further details about what caused the emergency during the training flight.
Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde also confirmed the crash on Saturday.
He reported that the training aircraft went down in Ndavaya, Kinango area, and that rescue and recovery operations had been launched soon after the incident occurred.
Reports indicate that the aircraft had taken off from Mombasa at 11:39 a.m. on Saturday and was last tracked around Diani.
The plane disappeared from radar before crashing at approximately 12:06 p.m.—just 27 minutes after takeoff.
Photos shared by Newshub.co.ke revealed the grim state of the wreckage. The cockpit area was badly damaged, with the roof torn off and only the pilot seats remaining.
The front section of the plane, especially the nose, appeared completely shattered, suggesting that the aircraft may have nose-dived into the ground.
In contrast, the tail section of the plane showed significantly less damage. This difference in impact points supports the theory that the aircraft crashed head-first.
Fortunately, despite the plane going down in an area where villagers had gathered, no civilian casualties were reported.
Many residents rushed to the scene to witness the incident, but emergency responders quickly arrived and secured the area while attempting to rescue the pilots.
The entire nation, including the military community, is in mourning as Kenyans come to terms with the sudden and tragic loss of two dedicated airmen who died in the line of duty.
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