In brief
A Eurocopter EC130 B4 went down near Mount Ololokwe in southeastern Kenya at 09:13 local time, claiming the lives of six international tourists and the pilot. The aircraft was en route on a scenic flight from a wildlife conservancy in Loisaba to the Ewaso Nyiro river. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has dispatched investigators, and the area is still inaccessible to rescue teams. The crash follows a series of previous helicopter incidents in Kenya, raising questions about aviation safety in the country.
Six tourists and a pilot lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Kenya
A Eurocopter EC130 B4 crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County at 09:13 local time, killing six international tourists and the pilot, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
The helicopter was conducting a scenic flight from the Loisaba wildlife conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro river, a popular route for safari-goers. The flight was only 50 metres above the ground when it lost control and crashed onto bushland.
The KCAA said the aircraft was immediately dispatched to coordinate emergency response. Drones are currently used to survey the site as the area remains inaccessible to ground teams.
Kenya faces a long history of helicopter accidents, with notable incidents in 2024 that claimed the life of a senior army officer and in 2021 when a military helocopter crashed near Nairobi, killing ten soldiers.
Samburu County is a major tourist hub, hosting several private wildlife conservancies and magnificent landscapes, which makes the incident a crucial reminder of aviation safety for tourism operators.
For more on Kenyan aviation and travel safety, visit BBCAfrica.com.
