Five people were killed after a rescue helicopter crashed on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, authorities said, in an accident that occurred during a medical evacuation on one of the mountain’s most popular climbing routes.
The crash took place on Wednesday evening between Barafu Camp and Kibo Summit at an altitude exceeding 4,000 meters, according to police and aviation officials.
The aircraft had been dispatched to evacuate patients from the mountain when it went down, killing everyone on board.
Police confirmed that two foreign nationals who had been picked up in a medical evacuation were among the victims.
Also killed were a local doctor, a tour guide, and the helicopter’s pilot.
Tanzanian media reported that the foreign passengers included Czech nationals, and that a Zimbabwean was also on board, though authorities did not immediately confirm nationalities.
Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander Simon Maigwa told journalists that the helicopter belonged to Kilimanjaro Aviation Company, which provides medical evacuation services among other operations.
The company has not issued a public comment following the crash.
The accident occurred on a route frequently used by climbers, underscoring the challenges of operating aircraft in high-altitude and rapidly changing mountain conditions.
The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority said on Thursday that an investigation had begun in line with international safety regulations “to determine the circumstances and probable cause” of the accident.
Officials said further information would be released as inquiries progress.
Aircraft accidents on Mount Kilimanjaro are rare, with the last recorded incident dating back to November 2008, when four people died.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak at nearly 6,000 meters above sea level, attracts tens of thousands of climbers each year.
While the ascent is not considered technically difficult, altitude sickness remains a serious risk for many visitors.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to the dangers faced by rescue crews operating in extreme environments.