Rescue helicopter crashes on Mount Kilimanjaro; All 5 on board dead
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The aircraft was on a medical evacuation mission when it went down. Among the dead were a Tanzanian doctor, a local mountain guide, the Zimbabwean pilot, and two Czech tourists who had been picked up for evacuation.
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DAR ES SALAAM (Tanzania), Dec 26 (INS): A rescue helicopter operating on Mount
Kilimanjaro crashed on Wednesday evening, killing all five people on board.
The accident occurred between 4,670 and 4,700 metres above sea level near Barafu
Camp, a staging point for climbers attempting the summit of Africa’s tallest
mountain.
Officials said the aircraft was on a medical evacuation mission when it went
down. Among the dead were a Tanzanian doctor, a local mountain guide, the Zimbabwean
pilot, and two Czech tourists who had been picked up for evacuation.
The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the crash and announced that
investigations are underway to determine the cause, including possible weather
and technical factors.
The helicopter belonged to Kilimanjaro Aviation, a company known for conducting
rescue and evacuation services on the mountain. Witnesses reported that the
crash happened in a remote, high-altitude section of the mountain, complicating
recovery efforts. Authorities said the wreckage was located near one of the
most popular climbing routes, between Barafu Camp and the Kibo Summit.
The crash site was way up in a tough spot on the southeast side of the mountain.
Guides and porters on the mountain who were nearby hurried over to help with
rescue efforts, but when they got there, no one had survived.
Mount Kilimanjaro, rising nearly 6,000 metres (20,000 feet), attracts about
50,000 climbers annually. Rescue missions are common due to altitude sickness
and other medical emergencies, but aviation experts note that flying at such
heights poses significant risks.
Regional police commander Simon Maigwa said further details would be released
after investigations.
The tragedy has cast a shadow over Tanzania’s tourism sector, which relies
heavily on Kilimanjaro’s global appeal.
Authorities expressed condolences to the families of the victims and pledged
a thorough inquiry.
The crash highlights both the dangers of high-altitude aviation and the challenges
of ensuring safety during rescue operations on one of the world’s most iconic
peaks.
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