A helicopter carrying tourists has crashed in Kenya’s Samburu County, killing everyone on board in an accident that occurred near the popular Mount Ololokwe tourist destination.
An aviation source confirmed the crash to AFP on Wednesday, saying there were no survivors, although the exact number of people aboard had not immediately been confirmed.
The helicopter crashed at the foot of Mount Ololokwe, a sacred mountain for the Samburu people and a popular hiking destination where tourism companies also operate helicopter tours.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the crash occurred at about 9:13 a.m. local time (0613 GMT) after the aircraft departed from the Loisaba wildlife reserve.
Local media reported that seven tourists were aboard the helicopter, although their nationalities remained unknown.
Video footage shared on social media showed thick black smoke rising from the crash site.
The cause of the accident has not been established. The KCAA said investigations were underway to determine what led to the crash.
The Kenya Red Cross also confirmed that emergency response operations were ongoing, with a multi-agency team working to reach the crash site.
The incident comes months after another helicopter crash in western Kenya in March killed six people, including a member of parliament.
