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Five people were killed in helicopter rescue mission crash on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, Wednesday (December 24) night, the Associated Press reports.
The accident occurred after the helicopter picked up patients on one of the mountain's most popular tourist routes. Two foreigners, who police said were picked up in a medical evacuation, were killed, along with a local doctor, a tour guide and the helicopter's pilot.
The accident was reported to have taken place between the mountain's Barafu Camp and Kibo Summit at an altitude exceeding 13,100 feet. The aircraft belonged to the Kilimanjaro Aviation company, which conducts medical evacuation services on the mountain, according to Kilimanjaro regional police commanders Simon Maigwa, though the company is yet to address the accident publicly.
Police said more information would be revealed publicly at a later time. The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority said an investigation has been launched in adherence with international safety regulations “to determine the circumstances and probable cause" of the crash during an update on Thursday (December 25).
Mount Kilimanjaro is nearly 20,000 feet above sea level and an estimated 50,000 tourists climb it annually. Aircraft accidents on the mountain are rare, with the last recorded incident taking place in November 2008, which resulted in four deaths.