A safari helicopter crash in a remote area of northern Kenya has claimed the lives of seven people, including five American citizens and Ecuador’s national intelligence chief. The fatal incident occurred on a Wednesday morning near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County during a scenic flight connecting popular wildlife conservancies in the region.
The chartered aircraft, a Eurocopter EC130 B4 operated for safari guests by Lady Lori Helicopters and &Beyond, was traveling from the Loisaba Conservancy toward the Ewaso Nyiro area—a river corridor that flows along several national reserves. According to statements from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, the helicopter crashed at approximately 9:13 a.m. local time (06:13 GMT).
Authorities confirmed that all seven people on board—consisting of a pilot and six passengers—were killed. Among those who perished was Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of Ecuador's national intelligence service. The Samburu County police commander and local authorities identified four of the American victims as Jose Alberto Suarez, Roger Edward Duarte, Adam Martin Hlavaty, and Henry Parra. Suarez was an executive with Telemundo, the U.S.-based Spanish-language network owned by NBCUniversal, which released a joint statement of mourning alongside NBCUniversal leadership.
The aircraft was completely destroyed by the impact and an ensuing fire. Due to the rugged, remote terrain surrounding Mount Ololokwe, initial ground access to the wreckage site was hindered, leading the Kenya Red Cross to deploy drones to evaluate the scene and coordinate emergency operations.
A multiagency investigation into the crash is underway. Fred Kabunge, director of Kenya’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Department, reported that investigators have requested satellite imagery from the Kenya Meteorological Department from the time of the flight and are reviewing tracking data from the flight operator. The disaster has prompted renewed scrutiny regarding Kenya's air safety record for safari and charter flights.
Sources
- Helicopter crashes at Mount Ololokwe in Kenya, killing six people - BBC
- Five Americans among seven killed in safari helicopter crash in Kenya - The Guardian
- 5 Americans among 7 people killed when helicopter on safari crashes in northern Kenya - Los Angeles Times
- Tourist helicopter crashes in Kenya, police say seven killed - Reuters
- 5 Americans among 7 dead after helicopter crashes in Kenya - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
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