Plane crashes in Kenyan coastal region of Kwale; 12 feared dead

A small plane crashed in Kenya's coastal region of Kwale early Tuesday while en route to a popular tourist destination in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, with 12 people feared dead, officials said.

The crash happened in a hilly and forested area about 40 km from Diani airstrip, the authorities said. Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde said operations at the crash site were ongoing and more details would be provided later.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said that 12 people were onboard the aircraft and authorities were investigating the cause of the crash.

Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde told The Associated Press that the passengers were "all foreign tourists" and their nationalities would be confirmed later. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said an investigation had been launched into the cause of the crash.

The exact number of who is crew and who is passenger is not known at this time. The aircraft is understood to have crashed just minutes into its flight and burst into flames, leaving a charred wreckage at the scene, officials said.

Witnesses told the AP they heard a loud bang, and on arriving at the scene they found unrecognizable human remains. The airline, Mombasa Air Safari, told the AP that it was collaborating with the civil aviation body and updates on the crash would be shared throughout the authority.

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is a popular tourist destination and features the annual wildebeest migration from the Serengeti in Tanzania.