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Crash in Samburu County
A tourist helicopter crash in Kenya killed seven people in Samburu county on Wednesday, including five Americans and Ecuador intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife, Stephany Hollihan.
“Seven people, including five Americans and Ecuador's intelligence head, were killed”
The BBC reported that the helicopter crashed at Mount Ololokwe in central Kenya at approximately 09:13 (06:13 GMT) on Wednesday, with the group of seven including six tourists and the pilot.
Reuters said the aircraft was flying to the Loisaba Conservancy, a wildlife reserve and safari destination in northern Kenya, when it crashed, and that all seven people—six passengers and one pilot—were killed.
Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority said the helicopter was on a scenic flight from a wildlife conservancy in Loisaba to Ewaso Nyiro, a river that flows along several national reserves, and images from the scene showed smoke at the wooded crash site on Mount Ololokwe.
Condolences and identities
The U.S. State Department confirmed in a statement to NBC News that five Americans were among the dead, and NBC News reported that the U.S. Embassy was in touch with local authorities and providing consular assistance.
NBC News also quoted a statement from a U.S. State Department spokesperson: “We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones on their loss,” as Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority identified Lady Lori Kenya as the helicopter operator.
Ecuador’s National Assembly confirmed in a statement that Michele Sensi-Contugi Ycaza and his wife, Stephany Hollihan Vásconez, died in the crash, and NBC News said the flag would be flown at half-staff at Parliament for three days as the country mourns.
The BBC reported that Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa named Sensi-Contugo director of the country's Centre of Strategic Intelligence (CIES) in January 2024, and that Noboa declared three days of national mourning starting on Thursday.
Recovery, investigation, and risk
Kenya’s Red Cross said difficult terrain and a fire at the site of the crash impeded its search and recovery efforts, and NBC News reported that an additional crew was dispatched from Isiolo to reinforce the operation.
“difficult terrain and a fire at the site of the crash impeded its search and recovery efforts”
Reuters said the Kenya Red Cross said search and recovery efforts were being hampered by difficult terrain and a fire at the crash site, while Reuters also reported that a preliminary police report from Archers Post police station was seen by Reuters.
The Washington Post described a guide from Saruni Basecamp, Samuel Kampala, saying the helicopter “hit the side of the mountain, a big rock,” and then “started going down,” as he watched from outside his home.
As the cause remained under investigation, the BBC noted that helicopter crashes are not uncommon in Kenya, citing a February crash in the Rift Valley county of Nandi that killed six people including a member of parliament, and a 2024 crash in which military chief Gen Francis Omondi Ogolla died after an army helicopter carrying 11 people crashed in the west of the country.