In brief
A Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopter crashed near Mount Ololokwe in central Kenya on 19 August, killing all six people on board. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority reported the crash at 09:13 local time and said the helicopter was on a scenic flight from a wildlife conservancy in Losaiba to the Ewaso Nyiro river. Authorities are investigating and using drones to assess the site, while the Kenya Red Cross notes limited access. The incident adds to several recent fatal helicopter crashes in Kenya, including casualties among tourists, parliament members and soldiers.
Mount Ololokwe in central Kenya is seen in the background of a highway.
A helicopter has 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 are reporting that the helicopter was carrying tourists.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said the accident happened at approximately 09:13 local time (06:13 GMT). The helicopter 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 at the crash site at Mount Ololokwe. The Kenya Red Cross has told the BBC that the area is not yet accessible, but drones are being used to assess the scene.
The KCAA said the accident involved a Eurocopter EC130 B4 and it is coordinating operations. The transport ministry and air accident investigations department will lead investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Helicopter crashes are not uncommon in Kenya. In February, a helicopter crash in the Rift Valley county of Nandi killed six, including a member of parliament. In 2024, the military chief, Gen Francis Omondi Ogolla, died after an army helicopter that was carrying 11 people crashed in the west of the country, with only two survivors. In June 2021 at least 10 soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed while landing near the capital, Nairobi.
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