Five people, including two foreign tourists, have been killed in a helicopter crash on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The helicopter went down on Wednesday between Barafu Camp and the summit area – one of Africa’s most popular climbing routes, at an altitude of around 4,670 to 4,700 metres (15,300–15,400 feet).
Police and aviation officials said the aircraft was on a medical rescue mission when it crashed, reportedly en route to evacuate climbers who needed assistance.
The victims have been identified as two Czech tourists, a Tanzanian doctor, a Tanzanian mountain guide, and a Zimbabwean pilot.
The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has launched an official investigation in line with international safety regulations to determine the circumstances and probable cause of the accident.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak at nearly 6,000 metres (20,000 feet), attracts tens of thousands of climbers each year. Helicopter evacuations are regularly used to assist climbers suffering illness or injury, but fatal aircraft accidents on the mountain are rare.
Authorities said more details will be released as the investigation progresses.
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