A tragic helicopter incident occurred at a renowned location, resulting in the loss of five lives, including two tourists. The crash took place on Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa and a favored spot for adventurers globally.
The victims included two foreign visitors awaiting evacuation, a local physician, a tour guide, and the pilot. The helicopter went down on Wednesday evening between Barafu Camp and Kibo Summit, at an altitude exceeding 4,000 meters (13,100 feet).
According to Kilimanjaro regional police commander Simon Maigwa, the aircraft belonged to Kilimanjaro Aviation, a company specializing in medical evacuation and aviation services.
The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) confirmed the fatalities and initiated a formal inquiry to determine the accident’s cause.
Although climbing Kilimanjaro is considered non-technical, altitude sickness poses a common threat, occasionally necessitating urgent evacuations. This helicopter crash represents the first aviation incident on the mountain since 2008.