NAIROBI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A helicopter carrying an unconfirmed number of passengers crashed on Mt. Ololokwe in Samburu County in northern Kenya on Wednesday, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed.
A Eurocopter EC130 B4 (registration 5Y-GYM) crashed at Mt. Ololokwe in Samburu County, according to a statement from the KCAA.
"The aircraft was conducting a flight from Loisaba Ewasonyiro when the accident occurred at approximately 0913 hrs local time," the regulator said in a statement.
The KCAA stated that it is coordinating with relevant agencies and stakeholders in response to the crash.
It said the Air Accident Investigation Department, under the Ministry of Roads and Transport, is leading the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Shortly after the aircraft went down, a large plume of thick black smoke and intense flames could be seen rising from the crash site.
Sources indicated that the helicopter was carrying tourists, though the exact number of people on board and casualties remained unconfirmed. ■