Residents of Samburu County in northern Kenya have described the terrifying moments before a helicopter crashed in a remote area, killing all seven people on board.
The accident occurred on Wednesday morning near Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination, during a flight from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area.
Local police and the US State Department said the seven victims included five Americans.
Eyewitnesses Recall Crash
Eyewitness Jaycob Lekoriani said he watched the helicopter descend from the hillside before it crashed and tumbled down the rugged terrain.
“I witnessed this incident from the start. From when the chopper went down from the top of the hill, to when it tumbled down up to here,” he said.
Lekoriani said residents rushed from a nearby village to the crash site in an attempt to help those on board.
“We rushed from the village to here, where the incident happened, and then tried to rescue those involved. But we got here when people had died.”
Aircraft Was on Safari Charter
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority identified the aircraft as a Eurocopter EC130 B4.
The helicopter was operated by local company Lady Lori Helicopters and was carrying guests travelling with safari company &Beyond. Lady Lori said the aircraft was conducting a charter flight when it crashed.
Tropic Air Kenya said it dispatched two helicopters to assist with search-and-rescue efforts.
Crash Investigation Underway
The cause of the crash remains unknown and is now under investigation by aviation authorities.
The aircraft came down in a rugged area in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, making access to the site difficult for rescuers.
The crash is the latest in a series of fatal helicopter accidents in Kenya, where aircraft are frequently used to transport tourists to remote wildlife conservancies and safari destinations.
In February, six people, including a Kenyan lawmaker, were killed when a helicopter crashed in a mountainous area of western Kenya.
Authorities are expected to examine the aircraft, flight conditions and other factors as investigators work to determine what caused the latest tragedy.
