Seven killed in Kenya tourist helicopter crash

A helicopter carrying six tourists and a pilot crashed in Kenya's Samburu county on Wednesday, killing everyone on board, according to authorities. The accident occurred at 09:13 am local time after the aircraft departed from the Loisaba wildlife reserve. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed that all seven people on the helicopter perished, with no survivors, as stated by Fredrick Kabunge, director of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID).

The crash site is located near Mount Ololokwe, a sacred mountain for the Samburu people and a popular hiking destination. The helicopter was reportedly transporting tourists for a scenic flight. The nationalities of the victims have yet to be determined. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by KCAA.

The Kenya Red Cross is coordinating response operations at the crash site, which has been captured on video emitting black smoke. Images shared by the Red Cross on social media showed the wreckage in flames. In March, a separate helicopter crash in western Kenya resulted in the death of six people, including a member of parliament.