DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) — A helicopter crashed on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, in Tanzania, killing five people.
Wednesday night’s accident occurred on one of the most popular tourist climbing routes and police said it was a rescue mission to pick up a patient on the mountain.
Among the victims were two foreigners, who police said were picked up in a medical evacuation. A local doctor, a tour guide and a pilot also died in the accident.
The accident occurred between Balafu Camp and Kibo Peak on the mountain at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters (13,100 feet).
Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander Simon Magwa told reporters that the plane belonged to Kilimanjaro Airways, which provides medical evacuation services, among other things. The company has not commented on the incident.
Police said more information would be provided later.
Tanzania’s Civil Aviation Authority said on Thursday it had opened an investigation in accordance with international safety regulations “to determine the circumstances and possible causes of the accident”.
Aircraft accidents on Kilimanjaro are rare, with the last recorded incident in November 2008, when four people died.
