Five people have died after a helicopter crashed on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, in northern Tanzania.
The crash happened on Wednesday evening along one of the mountain’s most popular climbing routes during what police said was a medical evacuation mission to pick up patients.
Among the dead were two foreign nationals who had been picked up for evacuation, as well as a local doctor, a tour guide and the pilot. The helicopter went down between Barafu Camp and Kibo Summit at an altitude of more than 4,000 metres (13,100ft).
Kilimanjaro regional police commander Simon Maigwa told reporters that the aircraft was operated by Kilimanjaro Aviation, a company that provides medical evacuation and other aviation services.
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The company has not yet commented on the incident.
Police said further details would be released as they become available.
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The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority said on Thursday that an investigation had been launched in line with international aviation safety standards to determine the circumstances and probable cause of the crash.
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Aircraft accidents on Mount Kilimanjaro are rare. The last recorded incident occurred in November 2008, when four people were killed.
Aircraft accidents are rare on Mount Kilimanjaro, with the last recorded incident in November 2008, when four people died.
