A diplomatic incident has unfolded at the site of the Kenya Airways crash off the Ivorian coast, where South African Navy divers clashed with Kenyan authorities during recovery operations.
The confrontation reportedly began when South African divers, deployed to assist with body and wreckage retrieval following the tragic accident that claimed 169 lives, were ordered by Kenyan officials to leave the scene. Kenyan representatives alleged that the divers had exceeded their mandate and were interfering with the Kenyan-led investigation.
South Africa, which had dispatched a specialised naval team in response to an urgent request from Kenya, expressed concern over the unexpected turn of events. Government officials noted that the divers had been operating under difficult conditions, often risking their lives to locate remains and wreckage in treacherous waters. At least 10 bodies had already been recovered by the South Africans prior to the dispute.
The situation has strained cooperation efforts at the crash site, where multiple nations are working to recover remains and investigate the cause of the crash. Observers fear that diplomatic tensions may hinder future multinational disaster responses if not resolved swiftly and transparently.
The Kenyan government has yet to provide a detailed explanation for its directive, while South African authorities are seeking clarity through formal diplomatic channels.
The Kenya Airways Airbus A310 plunged into the Atlantic shortly after take-off from Abidjan in January 2000. Only 10 survivors were found.
