Seven tourists have been killed after a helicopter crashed in Kenya’s Samburu County this morning.
The aircraft came down near the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a peak sacred to the Samburu people that rises to approximately 2,000 metres above sea level.
It has been identified by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) as a Eurocopter EC130 B4,
Footage circulating on social media showed thick black smoke rising from the base of the mountain at the crash site.
The incident occurred at 9.13am local time (7:13am BST) after the helicopter departed from the Loisaba wildlife reserve.
The aircraft, bearing registration 5Y-GYM, had been travelling towards the Ewaso Nyiro River, which passes through the Samburu National Reserve.
Local safari operator Tropic Air was running the flight, according to Kenyan media reports.
The KCAA said it was “coordinating with the relevant agencies and stakeholders in response to the accident”.
It offered its “deepest condolences to the families of the victims following this tragic incident”.
The authority’s spokesman refused to disclose passenger numbers or confirm whether tourists were aboard.
Police had initially said seven people were aboard the helicopter, although their nationalities have not been confirmed.
Luxury tour operator &Beyond confirmed the aircraft had been carrying its guests, without specifying an exact number.
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Witnesses described the helicopter going down in a deep, hard-to-reach area of the mountain.
One witness said: “Right there, there is a helicopter that has fallen. It is quite deep and far, but do send urgent help so that people can be rescued.”
Samburu County has grown into a popular tourist destination, renowned for its striking landscapes and safari experiences.
Kenya’s Ministry of Roads and Transport has assigned its Air Accident Investigation Department to lead the inquiry into the cause of the crash.
The Kenya Red Cross confirmed response operations were ongoing as part of a multi-agency effort to reach the site.
The country has experienced a series of fatal helicopter incidents in recent years.
Earlier this year, six people died, including a Member of Parliament, when a helicopter went down in a hilly region of western Kenya.
In 2024, Kenya’s military chief, General Francis Ogolla, was among nine people killed after a helicopter caught fire and crashed shortly after take-off.
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