"Lost control": Eyewitness shares chilling details moments before Samburu crash
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- Families living near Kirish in Samburu East described watching a white-and-red helicopter approaching the rocky summit of Mt. Ololokwe before it lost altitude
- Witnesses say the aircraft appeared to be attempting to land or manoeuvre near the peak when it suddenly began falling down the rocky slope
- The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed the crash, with the Air Accident Investigation Department now working to establish the cause
Residents living close to Mt. Ololokwe in Samburu East have offered chilling accounts of the final moments before a helicopter plunged into the mountain's steep valley and burst into flames on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
Did aircraft in Samburu make contact with ground?
Families in the Kirish area described watching a white-and-red aircraft approaching the jagged upper edge of the mountain.
To those on the ground, the helicopter appeared to be manoeuvring for a landing near the summit.
Their accounts, shared with Samburu Newsflash, suggest that the aircraft never made contact with the ground as intended.
Instead, it began losing altitude rapidly, sliding down the rocky face of the mountain before the impact triggered a fire and sent a column of thick smoke rising into the sky.
KCAA officially confirms Samburu Did crash
Emergency responders, security personnel and members of the local community have since been navigating the rugged and difficult terrain as search and rescue efforts continue.
The operation has been complicated by the remote and rocky nature of the area around Mt. Ololokwe.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has officially confirmed the crash.
Its Air Accident Investigation Department is now conducting a full investigation to establish what caused the aircraft to go down. Seven people were killed in the incident.
Makueni accident kills seven en route to family celebration
In another story, TUKO.co.ke highlighted facts about a tragic accident in Makueni County, where a matatu en route to a family celebration plunged off the road, resulting in seven fatalities and numerous injuries.
Eyewitnesses reported the heart-wrenching cries of a child at the front of the vehicle, which drew locals to the scene, underscoring the horrific nature of the crash.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.