NAIROBI, Kenya – Two Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel were killed on Saturday, June 14, after a Kenya Air Force training aircraft crashed in Ndavaya, Kinango area of Kwale County.
The aircraft, a Grob 120A with registration KAF 718, went down at around 12:06 pm, barely half an hour after taking off from Moi Air Base in Mombasa at 11:39 am, according to flight tracking data.
In a statement, the Kenya Defence Forces confirmed the incident, saying the fixed-wing aircraft was on a routine training mission when it experienced an emergency and went down near Mwakijembe Primary School in the remote Ndavaya region.
“Earlier today, 14th June 2025, a Kenya Air Force Grob 120A aircraft experienced an emergency while on a training flight in the general area of Mwakijembe Primary School, Ndavaya, Kwale County. On board were two pilots. Recovery is ongoing,” the KDF said in a statement.
Earlier today, 14th June 2025, a Kenya Airforce Grob 120A aircraft experienced an emergency while on a training flight in the general area of Mwakijembe Primary School, Ndavaya, Kwale County. On Board were two pilots. Recovery is ongoing.
Witnesses at the scene said the crash killed all those on board.
Emergency response teams, including crash investigators from the Kenya Air Force, were quickly deployed to the area to secure the site and begin recovery operations.
Local police also arrived at the scene to support initial investigations.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, and authorities have launched a formal probe to determine what led to the fatal accident.
The Grob 120A is a two-seat light aircraft primarily used by air forces around the world for pilot training. Kenya’s Air Force uses it for basic flight instruction.
The incident adds to a series of military aircraft accidents that have raised concerns over air safety during training operations.
The KDF is expected to release further details once families of the victims are notified and investigations progress.
