Kenya Helicopter Crash Kills 7 Including 5 Americans

Kenya helicopter crash kills 7 near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu, including five Americans and Ecuador intelligence chief.

A routine sightseeing flight in central Kenya has ended in tragedy. Seven people lost their lives on Wednesday, August 19, after a tourist helicopter went down near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County.

Kenya's civil aviation authority confirmed that there were no survivors from the crash. The victims included five American citizens.

The aircraft crashed at about 9:13 a.m. local time, according to officials. It was flying over a remote wilderness area north of Nairobi.

Among those killed was Michele Sensi-Contugi, the Director General of Ecuador's intelligence agency. He was travelling with his wife, Stephany Hollihan, a fashion designer and founder of Sensi Studio.

Ecuadorian authorities said Hollihan, who also holds American citizenship, died alongside her husband. The Presidency in Quito has already sent condolences to their family.

Another victim has been identified as Jose Alberto Suarez, a senior executive with US Spanish-language network Telemundo. He was the president and general manager of Telemundo stations in Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa.

Authorities are yet to release the names of the other American victims and the pilot.

The helicopter was operating as a charter for luxury travel company &Beyond. The operator has been identified as Lady Lori Helicopters, also known as Lady Lori Kenya.

According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, the flight took off from Loisaba Wildlife Conservancy. It was headed to the Ewaso Ngiro River area, a popular route for aerial game viewing.

The aircraft involved was a Eurocopter EC130 B4, now called the Airbus H130. It is a single-engine helicopter widely used for tourism. It can carry five to seven passengers plus a pilot.

Emergency teams rushed to the scene after reports of smoke in the foothills. Videos posted online showed thick smoke rising from the wreckage.

The Kenya Red Cross said the rescue and recovery operation was extremely difficult. Rugged terrain and an active fire at the crash site slowed down responders.

An additional team was dispatched from Isiolo to support the operation. Samburu County Police Commander David Nkoroi later confirmed that all seven on board had died.

The US State Department has confirmed the death of five American nationals.

A spokesperson said the US Embassy in Nairobi is in close contact with Kenyan authorities. Consular assistance is being provided to the families of the victims.

Ecuador's foreign ministry said its embassy in South Africa is coordinating the response. Ecuador does not have a mission in Kenya.

In a statement, the ministry described Sensi-Contugi's death as a great loss to the country.

Kenya's Ministry of Transport has opened a full investigation. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Department will examine the wreckage, flight records, weather conditions and other factors.

The cause of the crash is still unknown.