A helicopter on a rescue mission crashes on Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro, killing all 5 on board

Friday, December 26, 2025 -A devastating aviation tragedy has struck Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, where a helicopter engaged in a critical medical rescue mission crashed late Wednesday, December 24, 2025, claiming the lives of all five people aboard. 

The helicopter went down between Barafu Camp and the Kibo Summit, at an altitude of roughly 4,600–4,700 meters, during an evacuation to aid climbers in distress. Officials confirm that there were no survivors, marking a heartbreaking moment for both local authorities and the international mountaineering community.

Among the deceased were two foreign climbers, reported as Czech nationals being evacuated due to medical concerns, a local Tanzanian doctor, a Tanzanian mountain guide, and the pilot, identified in some reports as a Zimbabwean national.

The aircraft, operated by a company specializing in high‑altitude medevac missions, was responding to a distress call when the accident occurred on one of Kilimanjaro’s most frequented trekking routes. 

Tanzanian authorities, including the Civil Aviation Authority, have launched a formal investigation under international safety standards to determine the precise cause of the crash and whether environmental or mechanical factors played a role.

This tragedy sends urgent ripples through the adventure tourism sector and reinforces the inherent risks of high‑altitude operations. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak, sees tens of thousands of climbers each year, and while helicopter rescues are often lifesaving, this incident underscores the extreme challenges faced by rescue crews in harsh mountain environments. 

Officials have pledged to share updates as the investigation unfolds, and the mountaineering community worldwide is left mourning the loss of professionals and climbers alike who dedicated themselves to safety and exploration.