Safari helicopter crashes in northern Kenya, killing seven, including five Americans

NAIROBI: A safari helicopter crashed Wednesday morning in a remote part of northern Kenya, killing seven individuals, including five Americans, according to local police and the US State Department.

Key points

• While flying from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
• Sensi-Contugi, a friend and close associate of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, was visiting Kenya as a tourist with his wife, Stephany Hollihan.
• Ecuador confirmed afterwards Wednesday that Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of the country's National Intelligence Center, died in the crash.
• Late on Wednesday, David Nkoroi, the police commander for Samburu, remarked to journalists that all seven residents on board had died.
• Among those killed were an executive with Telemundo, the US-based Spanish-language network owned by NBCUniversal, and the director of Ecuador's national intelligence service.

For context, the helicopter crashed at 9: 13 a.m. While flying from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. It remarked in an official note that an investigation was underway. It remarked there were seven residents on board, six passengers and the pilot.

Meanwhile, the US State Department remarked five of those killed were US citizens.

"The U.S. Embassy is in touch with local authorities and is providing consular assistance, " it remarked. "We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones on their loss."

In practice, the identities of the victims were not made public but a local television station in Miami, Florida, stated that José Suárez, 55, president and general manager of a number of Telemundo stations in Florida, was among those killed.

"We are heartbroken to learn the tragic news that José was killed in a helicopter accident in Kenya, " the NBC affiliate in Miami quoted from a joint statement from NBC Universal and Telemundo leadership.

In practice, the helicopter crashed in a rugged area in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination in the country, local media documented. The helicopter, owned by local firm Lady Lori Helicopters, was carrying guests with travel business &Beyond. Lady Lori Helicopters remarked in an official note that the aircraft was operating a charter flight when it crashed.

Tropic Air Kenya, a local safari operator, remarked in an official note that it dispatched two of its helicopters to aid search and rescue operations. The aviation authority remarked the aircraft was a Eurocopter EC130 B4.

"In this moment of deep sorrow, the government extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones and close associates, " Ecuador's presidency remarked in an official note posted on X.

Sensi-Contugi, a friend and close associate of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, was visiting Kenya as a tourist with his wife, Stephany Hollihan. This person additionally died in the crash. She was a U.S. And Ecuadorian citizen. They are survived by their two children.

Helicopter crashes have happened with increasing regularity in Kenya. It has a vibrant tourism industry that depends on domestic carriers to ferry visitors to distant places like Mount Ololokwe.

In February, a legislator was among six individuals who died after a helicopter crash in a hilly area of western Kenya.

For now, safari helicopter crashes in northern Kenya, killing seven, including five Americans remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.