The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has confirmed a helicopter had crashed in a remote area of the country, leaving seven people on board dead.
The helicopter hit Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County in central Kenya Wednesday morning said the authority, noting that it involved a Eurocopter EC130 B4, registration 5Y-GYM.
According to KCAA, the aircraft was from Loisaba, heading to Ewasonyiro when the accident occurred at approximately 0913 hrs local time.
“KCAA is coordinating with the relevant agencies and stakeholders in response to the accident. The Ministry of Roads and Transport, Air Accident Investigation Department is leading investigations on circumstances surrounding the accident,” said the authority.
A subsequent police report confirmed that the light aircraft, known as Lady Lorry, was flying from Soyian-Laikipia to Loisaba Conservancy before crashing.
All 7 passengers named Josh Outran, the pilot, Roger Duarte, Adam Navaty, Stephen Vasconquez, Henry Parra, Michael Contugi and Suian Suarez (female) died.
Five of the victims were American.
According to eyewitnesses at the scene, a large plume of thick black smoke and intense flames could be seen rising from the crash site shortly after the aircraft went down.
Residents immediately raised the alarm, prompting a swift deployment of regional security forces and emergency medical teams.
The Kenyan Red Cross reported that though search-and-rescue efforts were underway, they were hampered by difficult, hard-to-access terrain and an actively raging fire at the crash site.
MG/as/APA