Five people died after a helicopter crashed Wednesday night on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, while carrying out a rescue mission on one of the mountain's most popular climbing routes.

According to police, the aircraft had gone to evacuate patients when the accident occurred, on a stretch of road located between Barafu Camp and Kibo Summit, at an altitude of over 4,000 meters.

Foreign Victims and Local Personnel

Among the deceased were two foreign nationals who were being transported in a medical evacuation. A local doctor, a tour guide, and the helicopter pilot also died, authorities confirmed.

Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander Simon Maigwa reported that the aircraft belonged to Kilimanjaro Aviation, a company dedicated to medical evacuation services and specialized flights. The company has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident.

Ongoing Investigation

The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority announced on Thursday the start of an investigation in accordance with international air safety standards, with the aim of determining the circumstances and probable cause of the accident.

Air accidents on Mount Kilimanjaro are rare. The last recorded incident dates back to November 2008, when a helicopter crashed, leaving four people dead.