Full story
Crash Near Ololokwe
A safari helicopter crash killed seven people in a remote part of northern Kenya on Wednesday morning, according to local police and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
“The helicopter crashed at 9:13 a.m. while flying from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County”
The aviation authority said the Eurocopter EC130 B4 crashed at 9:13 a.m. while flying from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, near Mount Ololokwe.
NBC News reported that the six passengers and the pilot were all killed, citing local police and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
The BBC said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department told it that the nationalities of the pilot and passengers were yet to be confirmed, while the KCAA said the helicopter was on a scenic flight from Loisaba to Ewaso Nyiro.
The Kenya Red Cross told the BBC that the area was not yet accessible and that drones were being used to assess the scene.
Americans Among Dead
Sky News reported that the U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed the deaths of four Americans and said the incident happened in Samburu County, with the US embassy in touch with authorities and providing consular assistance.
NBC News said the U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed the deaths of four Americans and quoted the spokesperson extending condolences to the families and loved ones.
The NBC News account also identified José Suárez as among the dead, and said he was 55 and worked for nearly 20 years across Telemundo-owned stations in Florida.
The BBC said the KCAA identified the accident as involving a Eurocopter EC130 B4 and said it was co-ordinating operations, while the transport ministry and Air Accident Investigations Department would lead investigations into the circumstances.
Anadolu Ajansı reported that the KCAA identified the aircraft as Eurocopter EC130 B4, registration 5Y-GYM, and said it was flying from Loisaba to Ewasonyiro when it crashed at about 9.13 am local time.
Investigation and Response
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that an investigation was underway, while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department was described by the BBC as leading investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
““participating in a multiagency response effort as rescue teams work to access the crash site.””
WHEC reported that the Kenya Red Cross said its emergency response teams were “participating in a multiagency response effort as rescue teams work to access the crash site.”
IndexBox said the Kenya Red Cross stated on X that its emergency response teams were at the scene in Samburu County working with other agencies to access the site.
NBC News said the Kenya Red Cross said its search and recovery efforts were impeded by the difficult terrain and a fire at the site of the crash, and that an additional crew was dispatched from Isiolo to reinforce the operation.
&Beyond confirmed in a statement that an aircraft registered as 5Y-GYM carrying &Beyond guests crashed near Kirish, close to Mt. Ololokwe in Samburu County, Kenya, and said the cause of the crash had not yet been determined and was under investigation by local authorities.
