Fresh Details Now Emerge Expose Who Was on Board the Chopper That Crashed in Samburu

New details have emerged about the occupants of a helicopter that crashed at the foot of Mt Ololokwe in Samburu County on Wednesday morning, August 19, leaving several people feared dead.

The aircraft, registered as 5Y-GYM, was a Eurocopter EC130 B4 operated by Lady Lori. It was reportedly based at Loisaba and was flying from Loisaba to Ewaso Nyiro when the accident occurred at about 9:13 a.m.

According to reports from the crash scene, up to seven tourists were believed to have been aboard the helicopter when it went down.

The aircraft crashed near the iconic Mt Ololokwe, a prominent flat-topped mountain that is considered sacred by the Samburu community and attracts tourists visiting the region.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing thick black smoke and intense flames rising from the area shortly after the helicopter crashed.

Five bodies were reportedly spotted at the scene, with the victims said to have suffered severe burns. However, authorities had not released an official death toll or identified the victims at the time of reporting.

The reports have also raised fears for two other occupants who had not yet been accounted for.

Images and aerial footage circulating online appeared to show the helicopter completely destroyed by fire. Ground photographs also showed extensive damage to the aircraft’s frame.

The remote location of the crash presented challenges for rescue and recovery teams. Initial reports indicated that police and other security personnel had not reached the site when the first details emerged.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed the crash and said it was coordinating with relevant agencies following the incident.

The Ministry of Roads and Transport’s Air Accident Investigation Department has taken charge of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

KCAA also expressed its condolences to the families of those affected, although it stopped short of confirming the number of fatalities.

The incident has sparked an outpouring of grief among Kenyans, with many expressing concern for the tourists believed to have been aboard the aircraft.

Authorities are expected to provide further details as search, recovery and identification efforts continue.

The identities of the occupants and the exact cause of the crash remained unknown at the time of reporting.

More information is expected as investigators examine the wreckage and establish what happened before the helicopter went down.