Kilimanjaro Helicopter Crash Kills 5 During High-Altitude Rescue Mission

A rescue mission on Africa's highest peak has ended in tragedy. A helicopter crashed on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania on Wednesday evening, killing all five people on board, according to authorities. Two foreign nationals being medically evacuated were among the deceased.

A High-Altitude Tragedy

The accident occurred at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters (13,100ft), between Barafu Camp and Kibo Summit, a popular tourist climbing route. Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander Simon Maigwa told journalists the aircraft, belonging to the Kilimanjaro Aviation company, was on a rescue mission. The victims included the two foreigners, a local doctor, a tour guide, and the pilot.

According to reports in Tanzanian media, the foreigners were Czech nationals and a Zimbabwean was also on board. Kilimanjaro Aviation has not yet commented on the incident.

Investigation Underway as Questions Mount

Aircraft accidents on Mount Kilimanjaro are rare. The last recorded incident was in November 2008, when four people died. On Thursday, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority announced it had launched an investigation “to determine the circumstances and probable cause” of the crash, in line with international safety regulations. While the ascent of Kilimanjaro isn't technically difficult, altitude sickness poses a significant risk to the thousands of tourists who climb it each year.