A Eurocopter EC130 B4 sightseeing helicopter crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, Kenya, on Tuesday morning, killing all seven people on board. The aircraft was operating a charter flight between the Loisaba area and Ewaso Nyiro when it went down in rugged terrain at about 9:13 a.m. local time, prompting a difficult rescue and recovery operation.
Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority identified the aircraft as carrying six passengers and a pilot. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Later reports identified the helicopter as belonging to Lady Lori Helicopters and said it was carrying safari guests. Some outlets reported that five of the six passengers were US citizens, although identities and nationalities were still being confirmed across coverage.
The crash has drawn immediate attention because it involved a tourist helicopter operating in a major wildlife region, where air transport supports high-end safari travel. Access to the site was constrained by the terrain, slowing emergency response and recovery efforts as investigators began work at the scene.