17 soldiers have died following a helicopter crash on Thursday, June 24, in Kenya.

According to a statement by the military, the Kenya Air Force Mi 171 E helicopter crashed at around 9 a.m. (0600 GMT) in the county of Kajiado.

The victims were said to be on a training exercise when the helicopter came down in Kajiado County outside the capital, Nairobi.

Six people on board sustained  serious injury.

A Kajiado County resident, said Morris Kirai Emerit, said;

“This plane came when we were under the hill there. It started making a funny noise, not that of the propeller, it sounded like an ambulance. After 10 seconds it turned and tried to land but it couldn’t. I think it hit that hill and after hitting the hill, it suddenly turned and hit the ground”.

Emerit said he helped to rescue two injured soldiers.

According to the police official, there were 23 soldiers aboard the helicopter when it crashed.