Small Cargo Plane Crashes Near Kenyan Airstrip, Both Crew Dead, Wreckage Burns, Investigation Launched Overnight

Nairobi, Kenya— A small cargo plane crashed near a Kenyan airstrip Monday, killing both crew members on board as the aircraft came down short of the runway and burst into flames in open bushland. The plane was on a routine supply run.

The crash happened around 10:15 a.m. near Lodwar airstrip in Turkana County, northwest Kenya. The aircraft, a Cessna 208 Caravan operated by a local charter firm, was carrying food and medical supplies from Eldoret. Witnesses said the engine sounded rough on approach, then went silent. It dropped fast.

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority confirmed two fatalities, the pilot and co-pilot. No passengers were aboard. A ground worker at the airstrip said, "It tried to line up, then it tilted left. We saw smoke before it hit. We ran but there was nothing to do."

The wreckage burned. Fuel ignited dry grass. Fire crews from the county took 40 minutes to reach the site because roads are poor. By then, the fuselage was gutted. Cargo was scattered and charred. The airstrip was closed for hours while debris was cleared.

The aircraft was 12 years old and had passed a check last month, according to the operator. The company said weather was clear and the pilots were experienced with bush strips. Investigators will pull engine logs and look at fuel samples. Bird strike has not been ruled out.

Lodwar airstrip handles small aid and commercial flights for a remote region. Safety margins are thin. Dust, wind shear and short runways make landings tricky. Pilots often fly low over terrain with no radar coverage. Last year, another Caravan crashed in similar conditions nearby.

Families of the crew were notified. One was a Kenyan captain with two children. The other was a young co-pilot from Nairobi on his second month with the firm. Colleagues gathered at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, where the plane was based.

The Air Accident Investigation Department said a team is en route with recorders, though the aircraft had only a basic cockpit voice unit. They asked witnesses to share photos and videos.

Tonight the burned wreck remains under guard in the field as investigators wait for daylight to map the debris path.