A helicopter crashed on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, killing five people, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority confirmed on Thursday. The incident occurred on Wednesday near Barafu Camp, a high-altitude stop for climbers on the mountain. Local media reported the aircraft was operating as part of a medical rescue mission.
Mwananchi newspaper and East Africa TV, quoting Kilimanjaro region’s head of police Simon Maigwa, said the victims included a guide, a doctor, the pilot and two foreign tourists. Their nationalities were not immediately disclosed. The crash site was reported at an elevation between 4,670 and 4,700 metres.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak at nearly 6,000 metres above sea level, attracts about 50,000 climbers each year. Authorities have not yet provided details on what caused the crash, and investigations are understood to be underway.