Helicopter carrying tourists crashes at Mount Ololokwe in Kenya, leaving no survivors
A Eurocopter EC130 B4 on a scenic flight between Loisaba and Ewaso Nyiro crashed in Samburu County on Wednesday morning, prompting drone search operations by the Kenya Red Cross.
Helicopter crashes at Mount Ololokwe during scenic flight
A Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopter carrying tourists crashed on the slopes of Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, central Kenya, on Wednesday, 19 August 2026. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the incident occurred at approximately 09:13 local time (06:13 GMT). The flight had departed from a wildlife conservancy in Loisaba and was traveling toward Ewaso Nyiro, a river that runs alongside multiple national game reserves in the region. Mount Ololokwe is situated roughly 250 kilometers north of Nairobi and rises to a peak elevation of 2,000 meters. The mountain holds cultural significance as a sacred site for the local Samburu people and is a frequent destination for hiking groups and aerial sightseeing tours. Images circulated on social media platforms shortly after the crash showed thick smoke rising from the mountain slopes.
Conflicting reports on casualty figures and passenger totals
Aviation authorities and emergency services confirmed that there were no survivors among those aboard the aircraft. Discrepancies emerged regarding the exact number of people on the flight. Air accident officials and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority stated that six people, comprising all passengers and flight crew on board, were killed in the crash. In contrast, earlier police statements reported by Kenyan newspapers, including The Star and Standard, indicated that seven tourists were on board before the helicopter went down. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Department reported that the identities and nationalities of the victims remain unconfirmed.
An aviation source described the outcome of the crash to AFP.
I confirm that there was a helicopter crash. There are no survivors.
Drone deployment and remote site access challenges
Search and recovery operations faced immediate physical obstacles due to the remote, steep terrain of Mount Ololokwe. The Kenya Red Cross stated that rescue workers could not immediately reach the crash site on foot because the area is difficult to access. Emergency teams deployed aerial drones over the mountainside to inspect the wreckage, evaluate conditions, and guide ground personnel toward the impact zone. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority announced that it is coordinating logistics from Nairobi while working directly with local emergency teams on the ground.
- Six people, including a member of parliament, die in a helicopter crash in western Kenya.
- A Eurocopter EC130 B4 crashes on Mount Ololokwe during a flight from Loisaba to Ewaso Nyiro.
- The Kenya Red Cross deploys drones to inspect the inaccessible crash site as transport officials open an investigation.
Transport ministry inquiry and recent aviation safety record
The Kenyan Ministry of Roads and Transport and its Aircraft Accident Investigation Department have opened an official investigation to determine the technical and environmental factors behind the crash. Investigators will examine the flight path between Loisaba and Ewaso Nyiro, maintenance records for the Eurocopter EC130 B4, and prevailing weather conditions over Samburu County at the time of the flight. Multiple commercial aviation operators provide scenic helicopter charters across central and northern Kenya to transport visitors between safari lodges and national parks. The crash is the second fatal helicopter incident in Kenya in 2026, following a crash on 1 March in western Kenya that killed six people, including a member of parliament.
