Seven Killed in Kenya Safari Helicopter Crash

Ecuador’s intelligence chief, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan, were among seven people killed when a helicopter crashed in Kenya’s Samburu County on Wednesday. The accident occurred at approximately 09:13 local time (06:13 GMT) near Mount Ololokwe, a scenic and popular tourist area known for its wildlife conservancies and dramatic landscape. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said the Eurocopter EC130 B4 was flying from the Loisaba wildlife conservancy to Ewaso Nyiro, a river that passes along several national reserves. Images from the scene showed smoke and members of the Kenya Red Cross near the burning wreckage. The helicopter was operated by Lady Lori Helicopters, which expressed condolences to the victims, their families and everyone affected by the crash. The five other people killed were American nationals, according to a US State Department spokesperson. One was identified as NBCUniversal journalist José Alberto Suárez, whom the company described as a respected leader, mentor and colleague. Miami restaurateur Roger Duarte was also identified by US and local media. The remaining four American victims have not yet been named. Sensi-Contugi, 44, had served as director general of Ecuador’s Strategic Intelligence Center since 2024. Ecuador’s government expressed sorrow over his death, while former President Guillermo Lasso also confirmed the news. The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation, and earlier reports incorrectly described the passengers as six tourists traveling with a pilot. The incident is the latest in a series of deadly helicopter crashes in Kenya. Six people, including a member of parliament, died in a Rift Valley crash in Nandi County in February. In 2024, military chief General Francis Omondi Ogolla was killed when an army helicopter crashed in western Kenya, and at least 10 soldiers died in a 2021 crash near Nairobi.

A helicopter carrying tourists on a safari crashed Wednesday morning in a remote, rugged area near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, northern Kenya, killing all seven people aboard: six passengers and the pilot. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said the Eurocopter EC130 B4 went down at 9:13 a.m. while traveling from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area. An investigation was launched, while rescue and recovery operations were complicated by difficult terrain and an active fire at the crash site. The U.S. State Department confirmed that five Americans were among the dead. They included José Alberto Suárez, a Florida-based NBCUniversal journalist and president and general manager of several Telemundo stations, and Miami restaurateur Roger Duarte. NBCUniversal described Suárez as a respected leader, mentor and colleague, while Duarte’s family said it was devastated by the loss and requested privacy. Ecuadorian officials identified two additional victims as Michele Sensi-Contugi, the country’s intelligence chief, and his wife, Stephany Holliham Yeaza. A statement from the Duarte and Valls families also identified the pilot and the two remaining passengers, although the article does not provide further biographical details about them. The aircraft was owned by Lady Lori Helicopters and was operating a charter flight for safari travel company &Beyond. Local operator Tropic Air Kenya sent two helicopters to assist with the search and rescue effort. Kenya Red Cross emergency teams joined a multiagency response. The crash occurred in a popular tourist region where domestic air carriers transport visitors to remote destinations. The article notes that helicopter crashes have become increasingly frequent in Kenya, citing a February crash that killed six people, including a legislator, and a 2019 crash that killed four Americans and a Kenyan pilot.

A safari helicopter crashed in northern Kenya on Wednesday, killing all seven people aboard: six passengers and the pilot. The Eurocopter EC130 B4 went down at approximately 9:13 a.m. local time after departing the Loisaba wildlife reserve and heading toward the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, near the remote Mount Ololokwe tourist destination. Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority said an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash. Footage from social media showed the wreckage burning in thick woodland, while the difficult terrain hindered rescue workers’ access to the site. The US State Department said five of the six passengers were American citizens and that the US Embassy was providing consular assistance. One victim was reportedly an executive at Telemundo, the Spanish-language television network owned by Comcast/NBCUniversal. Another was Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of Ecuador’s Strategic Intelligence Center. Sensi-Contugi, a former businessman and close associate of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, had been appointed to lead the country’s national intelligence agency in 2024. His wife, who also held US citizenship, was among those killed. Ecuador’s presidency expressed condolences to the victims’ families and associates. The crash comes amid growing concerns about helicopter safety in Kenya’s expanding tourism industry. Helicopter tour operators frequently offer flights to remote destinations such as Mount Ololokwe, but accidents have reportedly become more common. In February, another helicopter crashed in the wilderness, killing all six people aboard, including a Kenyan parliamentarian.

Five Americans were killed Wednesday when a helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of northern Kenya, according to the U.S. State Department and Kenyan aviation authorities. The aircraft was carrying seven people and went down at approximately 9 a.m. local time near Kirish in Samburu County, close to Mount Otolokwe. The accident occurred during a charter flight operated by Lady Lori Helicopters from Suyian Conservancy, a 44,000-acre private wildlife refuge, to Otolokwe. One of the victims was reportedly José Suárez, a Telemundo executive who served as president and general manager of multiple stations in Florida. NBCUniversal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde identified Suárez in a message to employees, according to NBC News. The identities of the other victims were not provided in the article. Lady Lori Helicopters said the aircraft was a Eurocopter EC130 B4 registered as 5Y-GYM. The company expressed condolences to the passengers, crew members, their families and others affected by the crash. The cause of the accident has not been determined and will be investigated by the relevant authorities. The U.S. Embassy in Kenya is coordinating with local officials and providing consular assistance. The State Department said the Trump administration’s highest priority is the safety and security of Americans and extended condolences to the victims’ families. The crash occurred in a remote, rugged area, and the article did not report any survivors or additional injuries.