The three people on board the training aircraft walked away alive. The three who died were on the ground.
The plane, registration 5Y-CDC, came down on January 10, 2025, about 2 kilometers from Malindi Airport in Kenya, at roughly 2:59 p.m. Among the dead was a boda boda operator, a motorbike taxi rider, whom the crashing aircraft struck, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed. Eyewitnesses described a fire after impact that left the victims unrecognizable.
The three people aboard were rushed to the nearest hospital. The aircraft was reportedly on a training flight. Malindi Airport is mostly used by aviation students.
What the authority said
KCAA Director General Emile N. Arao issued a statement. “KCAA wishes to confirm that an aircraft registration number 5Y-CDC, crashed 2km from Malindi airport at 1159Z (2:59 p.m),” it read. “The aircraft had three people on board who survived and were rushed to the nearest hospital. Meanwhile, regrettably, there were 3 fatalities on the ground. Government agencies are already on-site to establish the cause of the accident.”
Several agencies are involved in the investigation. No cause has been given. The coverage so far leaves open whether mechanical failure, human error or something else was behind it, and preliminary findings are expected to settle that.
Reaction
Photos and videos of the wreckage spread quickly on X. One user, Mabonga_254, posted images and wrote that about three people had been “burnt beyond recognition” and that students were training on the plane. Many online expressed shock and grief, asking how a crash could happen in an area locals and motorbike operators use daily.
Local leaders have asked for tighter rules, including buffer zones around airports and campaigns to warn residents and riders about the hazards of low-flying training aircraft. Experts have called for a review of safety standards for training aircraft. Aviation specialists also point to the need for strict maintenance checks, updated training protocols and regular audits, according to K47.
The families of the dead are receiving support from local authorities, while the survivors are being treated. KCAA and other stakeholders have pledged to share more information as it emerges.
