A passenger plane operated by local airline Silverstone Air Friday morning skidded off the runway at Wilson Airport in the capital Nairobi.
Witnesses say the craft lost its way during take-off to the coastal city of Mombasa.
Images circulated online from the scene showed that the Fokker 50 aircraft plunged into a thicket, hitting some trees and breaking part of its wing, before being grounded, tilted to one side.
A passenger who had boarded the plane told the Nation that they were yet to hit the skies when the pilot realised “some issues”, without giving details.
Kenya Red Cross reported that the the 5Y-IZO aircraft “developed some technical hitch while taking off”.
There were no immediate reports on casualties but most of the passengers suffered trauma after literally brushing with death.
Emergency rescue teams at the airport evacuated the plane, with the pilot and some passengers being rushed to various hospitals for medical check-up.
Firefighters, who arrived on the scene in good time, sprayed thick foam on the plane as they battled to prevent flames.
In a brief statement posted on Twitter, Silverstone Air confirmed the accident, saying the plane was operating on the Wilson-Mombasa- Lamu-Mombasa-Wilson route.
“The passengers and crew have all been safely disembarked and we are currently working working with the relevant authorities to assess the situation,” the statement reads in part.
Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and managers of Wilson Airport are yet to issue a statement of the mishap.
