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Crash at Ololokwe
A helicopter crash at Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County killed seven people, including six tourists and a pilot, on Wednesday, according to local media reports citing local officials.
“Seven people, including six tourists and a pilot, were killed”
The Anadolu Ajansı report said the aircraft crashed at about 9:13 a.m. local time (0613 GMT) while flying from Loisaba to Ewasonyiro, and it identified the helicopter as a Eurocopter EC130 B4 with registration 5Y-GYM.
The BBC reported that the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said the accident happened in Samburu county at approximately 09:13 local time (06:13 GMT) and that the helicopter was on a scenic flight from Loisaba to Ewaso Nyiro.
The BBC added that the Kenya Red Cross told it the area was not yet accessible, but drones were being used to assess the scene, as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department led investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Euronews said Frederick Kabongi, head of the Flight Accident Investigation Department, told AFP that the helicopter was carrying tourists on a sightseeing tour and that seven people were on board, with all on board killed.
Identities and response
The U.S. State Department confirmed the deaths of four Americans as a result of the crash, and NBC News reported that the U.S. Embassy was in touch with local authorities and providing consular assistance.
NBC News also quoted a U.S. State Department spokesperson saying, "We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones on their loss," while Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority identified Lady Lori Kenya as the helicopter operator.
Kenya’s Red Cross said its emergency response teams were participating in a multiagency response effort, and it reported that search and recovery efforts were impeded by difficult terrain and a fire at the site.
Euronews said the Kenyan Red Cross Society reported that operations faced challenges due to rugged terrain and ongoing fires, and that an additional team from Isiolo was being sent to bolster search and recovery efforts.
In a separate report, the BBC said the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority was coordinating operations and that the transport ministry and Air Accident Investigations Department would lead "investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident".
Investigation and wider impact
Investigators were working to establish what happened, with Anadolu Ajansı saying the Air Accident Investigation Department under Kenya's Roads and Transport Ministry was leading investigations and authorities did not immediately disclose the possible cause.
“Authorities did not immediately disclose the possible cause of the accident.”
The BBC reported that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department said the nationalities of the pilot and passengers were yet to be confirmed, while the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said the accident involved a Eurocopter EC130 B4 and was coordinating operations.
Euronews said the helicopter was completely destroyed and that rescue teams found the helicopter completely wrecked due to the force of impact and the ensuing fire, as investigators began work at the Nairobi headquarters of the helicopter operator, Lady Lori.
Anadolu Ajansı described Mount Ololokwe, also known as Ol Donyo Sabache, as part of Kenya's northern tourism circuit, where light aircraft and helicopters are widely used to transport tourists between safari lodges, conservancies and other destinations.
The crash also raised questions about who was affected beyond the immediate scene, with KYMA reporting that the helicopter crash killed 7, including 4 Americans, and with NBC News naming José Suárez, president and general manager of multiple Telemundo-owned stations in Florida, as among the dead.
