Northern Kenya helicopter crash kills seven, including Ecuadorian intelligence chief

A Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopter crashed in Samburu County, northern Kenya, on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of all seven individuals on board. The aircraft was conducting a charter safari flight from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area when it went down at 9:13 am local time in the rugged foothills of Mount Ololokwe.

The victims included Michele Sensi-Contugi, the head of Ecuador’s National Intelligence Center, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan. Sensi-Contugi, a former businessman appointed to his role in 2024, was a close associate of President Daniel Noboa. Ecuador’s Transport Minister, Roberto Luque, confirmed the deaths, noting the personal loss to their family.

NBCUniversal confirmed that its journalist Jose Alberto Suarez was also among the fatalities. Suarez served as the president and general manager of Telemundo 31, Telemundo 49, and Telemundo Fort Myers–Naples. The United States Department of State stated that five US citizens were killed in the incident, with the US Embassy providing consular assistance to local authorities.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation into the crash. The aircraft was owned by Lady Lori Helicopters and was carrying guests with the travel company &Beyond. Local police commander David Nkoroi confirmed the death toll but did not initially release the identities of the victims, which were later provided by foreign governments and media outlets.

Recovery operations faced challenges due to ongoing flames at the crash site. As of Wednesday evening, three bodies remained trapped in the wreckage, with rescue teams from the Kenya Red Cross and Tropic Air Kenya participating in a multiagency response effort. Recovery operations were scheduled to continue into Thursday.

The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns in Kenya’s tourism sector, which relies heavily on domestic carriers to access remote destinations. In February, a separate helicopter crash in western Kenya killed six people, including a Kenyan legislator, underscoring the frequency of such accidents in the region.