In brief
A helicopter carrying six tourists from a wildlife conservancy crashed at Mount Ololokwe in central Kenya, killing all onboard. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority placed the crash at 09:13 local time and identified the aircraft as a Eurocopter EC130 B4. Authorities have started drone surveys as ground access is difficult, and the incident follows several other fatal helicopter accidents in Kenya over the past years.
Mount Ololokwe helicopter crash claims six lives in Kenya.
A Eurocopter EC130 B4 carrying six tourists on a scenic flight from Losaiba wildlife conservancy to Ewaso Nyiro river crashed at Mount Ololokwe in Samburu county at 09:13 local time, killing all aboard.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed the time of the accident and identified the aircraft model. Ground access to the crash site remains limited, so the agency is using drones to map the scene and coordinate rescue efforts.
Kenya’s Transport Ministry and Air Accident Investigations Department will lead the investigation into the circumstances that caused the crash.
Helicopter incidents are not uncommon in the country; earlier this year a military helicopter crash killed Kenya’s army chief, and in previous years several civilian and military accidents have resulted in heavy casualties.
The KCAA and authorities are urging calm while they investigate the crash and respond to the loss of six people, all of whom were tourists enjoying the region’s wildlife.
