NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 19 — The helicopter that crashed at Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, killing seven people, struck a rock near the summit while flying close to the cliff face, a preliminary investigation has established.

📻 Breaking It Down

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) said the aircraft hit the rock with its landing gear during a manoeuvre shortly after climbing above the mountain ridge.

The impact caused the landing gear assembly to separate, sending the helicopter down the steep mountainside and over a cliff.

The aircraft crashed at the base of the cliff at about 9:13am on August 19 and was destroyed by the impact and a fire that broke out after the crash.

📌 What You Need to Know

The victims were pilot Josh Outram, former Ecuadorian Chief of Intelligence Michele Sensi Contugi, his wife Stephany Holihan, Roger Edward Duarte, José Alberto Suárez, Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra.

According to the preliminary report, the helicopter departed Loisaba Conservancy earlier that morning with Outram as the only person on board.

It flew to Suyian Conservancy, where the six passengers boarded before the aircraft proceeded to the Ewaso Nyiro River.

The helicopter later headed to Mount Ololokwe, where the passengers were scheduled to have breakfast.

Flight-tracking data showed that the aircraft reached the mountain at around 9:12am and began flying parallel to the cliff face.

The AAID said the flight path appeared to allow the passengers to view the scenery and take photographs.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya