Helicopter crashes in a remote area of northern Kenya, aviation authorities say

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A helicopter carrying an unspecified number of passengers crashed Wednesday morning in a remote region of northern Kenya, according to the country's aviation authority. The incident occurred at 9:13 a.m. while the aircraft was en route from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County. The Kenya Aviation Authority stated that an investigation is currently in progress to determine the cause of the crash.

The helicopter, operated by local safari company Tropic Air, came down in a challenging terrain located in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe. It remains unclear whether the helicopter was transporting tourists or other individuals. The aviation authority did not disclose the exact number of people on board. In recent years, Kenya has experienced a surge in helicopter accidents, a trend that is concerning for the country's thriving aviation industry that relies on domestic carriers to transport tourists to remote destinations.