How rock strike sent helicopter plunging 360 metres in Mt Ololokwe crash
A preliminary investigation has revealed what brought down the aircraft last month.
At Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, Kenya, an Airbus EC130 B4 helicopter operated by Lady Lori (Kenya) Limited crashed on August 19, 2026, killing all seven people on board. The preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) stated the helicopter struck a rock formation near the summit while performing a low-level flight close to the cliff face.
The wreckage was found at two locations: one on the steep slope at the point of impact and the other at the base of the cliff. The main rotor blades and some other parts were recovered, while the rest of the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a subsequent fire. The victims included the pilot Josh Outram, Michele Sensi Contugi and his wife Stephany Holihan, Roger Edward Duarte, José Alberto Suárez, Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra.
The Kenyan Ministry of Transport, Airbus Helicopters, Safran Helicopter Engines, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and other international aviation authorities are conducting a detailed investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
Written by urgent.news from KahawaTungu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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