Six die in helicopter crash over Mount Ololokwe, Kenya

Sun Sep 06 2026 06:28:40 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Eurocopter EC130 B4 crashed during a scenic flight, killing all six passengers in central Kenya's Samburu County on 19 August 2026.

A Eurocopter EC130 helicopter crashed at Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, killing six people on board. The aircraft was on a scenic tour when the crash occurred at 09:13 local time. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said the helicopter was flying from Losaiba to the Ewaso Nyiro River. Authorities are investigating, with drones being used to assess the site. Helicopter accidents have plagued Kenya, with several previous fatal incidents.

Six die in helicopter crash over Mount Ololokwe, Kenya

Mount Ololokwe landscape — Mount Ololokwe in central Kenya.

A Eurocopter EC130 helicopter went down at Mount Ololokwe, Samburu County, killing all six people on board. The crash happened at around 09:13 local time on 19 August 2026, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).

Official reports say the aircraft was on a scenic flight from a wildlife conservancy in Losaiba to the Ewaso Nyiro River, a corridor that passes several national reserves. Witnesses described a burst of smoke and flames at the crash site.

The KCAA has confirmed the aircraft model was a Eurocopter EC130 B4 and is coordinating an investigation led by the transport ministry and the Air Accident Investigation Department. The Kenya Red Cross confirms the site is currently inaccessible, but drones are being used to survey the area.

Helicopter incidents are frequent in the country; previous crashes include a 2024 military helicopter loss and a 2021 incident near Nairobi that killed several soldiers.

Authorities are still working to identify the passengers, who are believed to be tourists on the scenic tour.