KCAA Confirms Aircraft Accident at Lokowe Mountain in Samburu

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has confirmed an aircraft accident involving a Eurocopter EC130 B4, registration 5Y-GYM, at Lokowe Mountain in Samburu County.

According to a statement issued by KCAA, the helicopter was conducting a flight from Loisaba to Ewaso Nyiro when the accident occurred at approximately 9:13 a.m. on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

KCAA said it is coordinating with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders in response to the incident, while the Air Accident Investigation Department under the Ministry of Roads and Transport is leading investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The authority did not immediately provide details on the number of people aboard the aircraft, casualties or possible cause of the accident.

The aircraft’s registration, 5Y-GYM, has previously been associated with a Eurocopter EC130. Aviation records show that the same registration was involved in an emergency landing in Kinangop in May 2015 after encountering weather-related difficulties.

KCAA urged caution as investigations continue and extended its condolences to the families of victims affected by the latest incident.

The accident comes months after a separate helicopter crash in Nandi County in February 2026 that killed six people, highlighting continuing aviation-safety concerns in the country.