NAIROBI — A helicopter carrying tourists crashed on Wednesday in Kenya’s Samburu County, killing everyone on board, according to an aviation source cited by AFP.
The aircraft came down near the foot of Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist and hiking destination located north of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
“I can confirm an accident has happened, there are no survivors,” the aviation source told AFP, although the source could not immediately confirm the number of people aboard the helicopter.
Local media reports said the aircraft was carrying seven tourists when it crashed. Their nationalities had not been disclosed at the time of filing this report.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the accident occurred at about 9:13 a.m. local time (0613 GMT), shortly after the helicopter departed from the Loisaba wildlife reserve.
Footage shared on social media showed thick black smoke rising from the crash site at the base of Mount Ololokwe.
Mount Ololokwe, whose summit rises to about 2,000 metres (6,560 feet) above sea level, is regarded as a sacred mountain by the Samburu people and attracts tourists for hiking and scenic excursions. Helicopter operators also offer aerial tours of the area.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, with the KCAA saying investigations were underway to determine what led to the accident.
The Kenya Red Cross said response operations were ongoing, with a multi-agency team working to gain access to the crash site.
The latest incident comes months after another helicopter crash in western Kenya in March killed six people, including a member of parliament, AFP reported.
