Inside the Final 27 Minutes: What Really Happened to KAF 718 After Its Flight from Rwanda to Mombasa

New revelations have shed light on the last missions and critical final minutes of the Kenya Air Force (KAF) aircraft that tragically crashed in Kwale County on Saturday, June 14, killing two military pilots. Flight tracking data now paints a more complete picture of the aircraft’s movements in the hours, and even weeks, leading up to the fatal crash. 

The plane in question, a Grob 120A light military trainer aircraft bearing tail number KAF 718, was airborne for just 27 minutes before vanishing from radar over the Shimba Hills region. But its journey that day had begun far earlier, and much farther from the crash site. 

At precisely 8:29 a.m., the aircraft departed Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, raising questions about the nature of its cross-border operation. By 10:38 a.m., it was spotted near Mombasa, hinting at a fast-paced transit or potentially covert mission involving logistical coordination between regional bases. 

What followed was a short-range operation along Kenya’s coast. At 11:39 a.m., KAF 718 was first recorded near Mombasa flying at roughly 200 mph and an altitude of 2,314 feet. A minute later, it was seen maneuvering over the Likoni–Shika Adabu corridor—southwest of Mombasa town. 

Just after 11:41 a.m., flight data shows the plane approaching Shimba Hills National Reserve. Its altitude had dipped to 2,000 feet, an unusually low level for a military trainer unless it was engaging in specific maneuvers or encountering mechanical trouble. 

By 12:06 p.m, just before its final transmission, the aircraft had climbed dramatically to 12,100 feet but slowed to 162 mph. This sudden increase in altitude, paired with decreased speed, may indicate a last-ditch emergency effort by the pilots to regain control, or a technical malfunction in the aircraft’s data transmission systems. 

That final ping placed the aircraft above Kinango, near the remote village of Ndavaya in Kwale County, about 40 km inland from Diani Beach. The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) confirmed this as the crash site later that afternoon. Investigators have since been deployed to recover the plane’s black box and piece together what exactly happened in those crucial final moments. 

Flight logs from FlightAware reveal that KAF 718 had been actively involved in numerous missions throughout April, May, and June. Many of these took place near Nanyuki, a strategic military hub that hosts the Laikipia Air Base. 

The aircraft had conducted at least four separate short-haul flights near Nanyuki in April, and on May 15 alone, it made several trips between the air base and Eastleigh. On June 5, it was tracked again near Nanyuki, flying for 46 minutes. 

Interestingly, on June 13, the day before the crash, it had flown near both Rwanda and Nanyuki in separate short trips, consistent with logistical support or advanced training operations. 

While KDF has yet to release detailed insights into the plane’s assignments, sources within the military indicate that KAF 718 was likely on a standard training or reconnaissance mission. However, the addition of international flight legs, such as the Kigali stop, raises the possibility of deeper regional cooperation or joint exercises. 

An official report is expected after aviation investigators analyze the recovered black box, which records both cockpit conversations and flight system data. 

As the country mourns the loss of two brave pilots, the incident casts a spotlight on the rigorous, often risky operations Kenya’s airmen undertake, not just in defense, but in readiness, training, and regional coordination.