Dar es Salaam, Dec 25: A helicopter crashed on Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, killing five people, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) said on Thursday. Local media reports indicated that the aircraft was on a medical rescue mission at the time of the accident.
According to the aviation authority, the helicopter went down on Wednesday near Barafu Camp, a high-altitude area on the mountain frequently used by climbers preparing for the summit ascent.
Local outlets Mwananchi newspaper and East Africa TV, citing Kilimanjaro region police chief Simon Maigwa, reported that those killed included a mountain guide, a doctor, the pilot, and two foreign tourists. The nationalities of the tourists were not immediately disclosed.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, rises to nearly 6,000 metres (20,000 feet) above sea level. The crash reportedly occurred at an altitude between 4,670 and 4,700 metres, where weather conditions and low oxygen levels often pose serious challenges.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Mount Kilimanjaro attracts around 50,000 climbers annually, making it one of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations.