Seven killed after tourist helicopter crashes in Kenya’s Samburu region

A sightseeing trip over one of Kenya’s most scenic landscapes ended in tragedy on Tuesday when a helicopter carrying tourists crashed in Samburu County, killing all seven people on board.

Kenyan aviation authorities confirmed that six passengers and the pilot died after the aircraft went down near Mount Ololokwe, a prominent landmark in the country’s northern tourism belt.

The helicopter, identified as a Eurocopter EC130 B4, had departed from a wildlife conservancy in Loisaba and was headed towards the Ewaso Nyiro area, a route popular with visitors seeking aerial views of Kenya’s wildlife reserves and rugged terrain.

Emergency responders and investigators were dispatched following reports of the crash shortly after 9 a.m. local time. Images circulating online showed smoke rising from the mountainous crash site, while officials said drones were being used to assess conditions on the ground because of the area’s difficult terrain.

Authorities have not yet released the identities or nationalities of those who died. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Department said efforts were underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority said it is working alongside investigators from the Transport Ministry and other agencies to determine what caused the aircraft to go down.

The accident has once again drawn attention to aviation safety in Kenya, where several fatal helicopter crashes have occurred in recent years. Earlier this year, six people, including a member of parliament, died in a helicopter accident in Nandi County. In 2024, Kenya’s military chief, General Francis Ogolla, was among senior officers killed in a separate military helicopter crash.

Mount Ololokwe and the wider Samburu region are among Kenya’s most visited tourism destinations, attracting travellers from around the world with their wildlife, landscapes and luxury conservancies.

Investigations into the latest crash are ongoing.

Source: BBC