SAMBURU COUNTY, KENYA — August 19, 2026: A helicopter carrying seven people has crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, northern Kenya, killing all seven occupants, according to reports from Kenyan media and local officials.
The aircraft, identified by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) as a Eurocopter EC130 B4, registration 5Y-GYM, crashed at approximately 9:13 a.m. local time while travelling from the Loisaba area towards Ewaso Nyiro.
Reports indicate that those on board included six tourists and the pilot. The helicopter came down in rugged terrain near Mount Ololokwe, with witnesses reporting thick smoke and flames rising from the crash site.
The crash occurred in an area associated with safari tourism, and early reports indicated that the aircraft was carrying guests travelling towards the Ewaso Nyiro River and the Samburu National Reserve area. Luxury safari company &Beyond confirmed that a helicopter carrying its guests had crashed, while investigations were underway.
Emergency and recovery teams were deployed to the remote crash site. Authorities have begun an investigation to establish what caused the aircraft to go down.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has not yet released a definitive cause of the crash. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight details, weather conditions and other factors that could have contributed to the tragedy.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Kenya's tourism and aviation sectors, particularly because the country relies heavily on helicopters and small aircraft to transport visitors to remote safari destinations.
Authorities are expected to provide further details, including the identities of the victims and the circumstances surrounding the crash, as the investigation continues.
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