Seven Tourists Feared Dead In Kenya Helicopter Crash

A helicopter carrying tourists has crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Kenya’s Samburu County, killing all those on board, according to an aviation source.

The aircraft crashed at about 9:13am local time on Wednesday after departing from the Loisaba wildlife reserve, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said.

“I can confirm an accident has happened, there are no survivors,” the aviation source told AFP, although the exact number of people aboard the helicopter was not immediately confirmed.

Local media reports said seven tourists were on board when the helicopter went down, but their nationalities were not disclosed.

Footage shared on X showed thick black smoke rising from the crash site at the foot of Mount Ololokwe, a sacred mountain for the Samburu people and a popular hiking destination.

Helicopter operators offer aerial tours around the mountain, whose summit rises to about 2,000 metres above sea level.

The cause of the crash remains unknown, with the KCAA saying investigations were underway to determine what led to the accident.

The Kenya Red Cross said emergency response operations were also ongoing, with a multi-agency team working to reach the crash site.

The crash comes months after another helicopter accident in western Kenya in March killed six people, including a member of parliament.

AFP

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