Seven Killed in Tourist Helicopter Crash Near Mount Ololokwe

Samburu, Kenya | August 19, 2026

Seven people, including six tourists and the pilot, have died after a helicopter crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County on Wednesday morning.

The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC130 B4, crashed at about 9:13 a.m. in the Kirish area near Mount Ololokwe. The aircraft was conducting a flight from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area when the accident occurred.

The crash occurred in a remote and rugged section of the region, with difficult terrain complicating access to the site. Emergency teams, including the Kenya Red Cross, were deployed as search and recovery operations got underway. An active fire at the crash site also hampered efforts to reach the wreckage.

The helicopter was carrying six tourists and a pilot. Luxury safari company &Beyond confirmed that the aircraft was carrying its guests, while authorities continued efforts to establish further details about those who died.

The crash has sent shockwaves through Kenya's tourism sector, particularly in northern Kenya, where helicopter flights are frequently used to connect visitors to remote conservancies and safari destinations.

The cause of the crash has not yet been established. The Air Accident Investigation Department under the Ministry of Roads and Transport is leading investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident, with investigators expected to examine the aircraft and other factors that may have contributed to the crash.

The tragedy has cast a sombre mood over the region and the tourism industry as families, colleagues and authorities await further information about the victims. Investigations and recovery efforts are expected to continue as authorities work to establish what caused the fatal crash.