Seven killed in Kenya tourist helicopter crash

NAIROBI: A helicopter en route to a scenic flight in Kenya's Samburu county crashed on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of all seven people on board, according to authorities. The incident occurred at 09:13 am local time, following the aircraft's departure from Loisaba wildlife reserve, as confirmed by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.

Fredrick Kabunge, director of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department, stated that the helicopter was carrying six tourists and a pilot. No survivors were found at the crash site, which is located near Mount Ololokwe, a mountain sacred to the Samburu people and a popular hiking destination. The helicopter was transporting tourists for a scenic flight when the accident took place.

Images shared by the Kenya Red Cross on social media showed a burning crash site at the foot of Mount Ololokwe, a mountain standing at 2,000 meters above sea level. The nationalities of the victims have not yet been determined, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation by the national aviation authority.