Nairobi, August 20: Seven people, including five US nationals and Ecuador’s intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi, were killed after a tourist helicopter crashed in Kenya’s Samburu County on Wednesday, August 19.
The helicopter was carrying six passengers and a pilot when it went down near Mount Ololokwe, a prominent landmark in northern Kenya. Kenyan authorities confirmed that there were no survivors. The aircraft was reportedly travelling from the Loisaba Conservancy towards the Ewaso Nyiro area when the crash occurred at around 9:13 am local time.
Among the victims was Sensi-Contugi, Ecuador’s intelligence chief, who was travelling with his wife, Stephany Hollihan. Ecuadorian officials later confirmed their deaths and expressed condolences to their family.
Five American citizens were also killed in the crash, the US State Department confirmed. One of the victims was José Alberto Suárez, a television executive associated with NBCUniversal and Telemundo. He was president and general manager of several Telemundo stations in the United States.
The helicopter was operated by Lady Lori Helicopters and was carrying guests associated with luxury safari company &Beyond. The aircraft, a Eurocopter EC130 B4, crashed in difficult terrain near Mount Ololokwe, around 270 kilometres north of Nairobi.
Emergency and rescue teams were sent to the crash site, but all seven people on board had died by the time authorities reached the area. Images from the scene showed rescue personnel working amid rugged terrain and debris from the aircraft.
The cause of the crash has not yet been established. Kenyan aviation authorities and investigators are expected to examine the helicopter, flight records, weather conditions and other factors as part of the investigation.
The incident has attracted international attention because of the identities of several passengers, particularly Sensi-Contugi and Suárez. However, authorities have not indicated that the crash was anything other than an aviation accident, and there is currently no official suggestion of foul play.
Kenyan officials are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. Further details about the remaining victims and the events immediately before the helicopter went down are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
The tragedy comes as Kenya's popular safari tourism industry continues to attract international visitors, with helicopter flights commonly used to reach remote conservancies and scenic areas that are difficult to access by road.
