A small plane crashed in Kenya’s coastal region of Kwale early on Tuesday while en route to Masai Mara National Park, killing all 12 people on board, aviation and tourism officials said.

Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority said the cause of the aircraft accident at Kwale, with 12 foreign tourists aboard was not immediately known.

The crash happened in a hilly and forested area about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Diani airstrip, authorities said. Interviewed, Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde said that the passengers were “all foreign tourists” and their nationalities would be confirmed later.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said that 12 people were on-board the Cessna Caravan-type aircraft, and authorities were investigating the cause of the crash. The breakdown of how many were passengers and crew wasn’t immediately clear

The aircraft crashed minutes after take-off and burst into flames leaving a charred wreckage at the scene, officials said.

While the exact cause of the accident is yet to be established, witnesses cited poor visibility due to unfavourable weather conditions as a possible cause of the fatal crash.

“Kenya Civil Aviation Authority wishes to confirm that an aircraft registration number 5Y-CCA, on its way from Diani to Kichwa Tembo, crashed at 0530Z,” KCAA said in a statement.

According to KCAA, the plane, which was carrying tourists, was headed to Kichwa Tembo after departing from Diani in the morning hours. Footage of the scene of the crash showed the plane being consumed by a huge fire, with spots of its scattered debris along the scene of the accident.

The witnesses said they heard a loud bang, and on arriving at the scene they found unrecognisable human remains. The airline, Mombasa Air Safari, said that it was collaborating with the civil aviation body and updates on the crash would be shared through the authority.

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

• A Tell Media / Agencies report