In brief
A Eurocopter EC130 B4 plunged near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, killing all six passengers. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority recorded the crash at 09:13 local time. Early reports identified the aircraft as a scenic‑tour helicopter and the victims as tourists. While the Kenya Red Cross reports the site remains inaccessible, drones are surveying the scene. The accident adds to a series of helicopter incidents in Kenya, prompting renewed scrutiny of aviation safety in the region.
A helicopter crashed in central Kenya at Mount Ololokwe in Samburu county, killing all six people on board, air accident officials have told the BBC.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Department said the identities of those on board were yet to be confirmed. Local media reports suggest the aircraft was carrying tourists.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) recorded the accident at approximately 09:13 local time (06:13 GMT). It stated the helicopter, a Eurocopter EC130 B4, was on a scenic flight from a wildlife conservancy in Losaiba to Ewaso Nyiro, a river that flows along several national reserves.
An image shared online shows smoke emanating from the crash site on Mount Ololokwe.
The Kenya Red Cross has reported that the area remains inaccessible, but drones are being deployed to assess the scene.
KCAA said it was coordinating operations with the transport ministry and the Air Accident Investigations Department to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Helicopter crashes are not uncommon in Kenya. In February, a helicopter crash in Nandi Valley killed six people, including a member of parliament. In 2024, an army helicopter crash claimed the life of military chief Gen Francis Omondi Ogolla, leaving only two survivors. In June 2021, a helicopter crashed near Nairobi, killing at least ten soldiers during landing operations.
