PHOTO Aviation disaster on Mount Kilimanjaro. All persons on board the helicopter lost their lives
Mount Kilimanjaro Photo: Xie Jianfei / Xinhua News / Profimedia
A helicopter crashed on Wednesday on Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa and an important tourist destination in Tanzania, all five people on board, including two Czech tourists, lost their lives, the Tanzanian authorities announced on Thursday, reports AFP, taken by Agerpres.
The accident occurred at an altitude of about 4,700 meters, near the Barafu camp, according to the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority. “The aircraft was carrying five people. Unfortunately, all five people died in the accident,” the authority said.
The cause of the accident is not yet known. According to a local police commander, Simon Maigwa, the helicopter was on a rescue mission when it crashed at around 17:30 local time (14:30 GMT) on Wednesday.
Among the victims are the pilot, a citizen from Zimbabwe, and two Czech tourists, the officer said.
🚨 Tragedy on Christmas Day:
A helicopter crashed on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, killing five people.
Local media report the aircraft was on a medical rescue mission. pic.twitter.com/TcPy2SConK
— Global Trends (@globaltrendsX) December 25, 2025
In June, the European Union placed all Tanzanian airlines on the list of high-risk carriers.
In 2022, a plane crashed into Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, killing 19 people. In 1999, 12 people, including ten American tourists, died in a plane crash in northern Tanzania during a flight between Serengeti National Park and Kilimanjaro Airport.
