The Dead Include Ecuador's Intelligence Chief and an American Journalist

Seven people, mostly foreign tourists, were killed when a safari helicopter crashed in a remote part of northern Kenya on Wednesday, officials said. The dead include Ecuador's intelligence chief and an American journalist. The helicopter crashed at 9:13am local time (06:13 GMT) while flying from the Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, according to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, which said an investigation was under way.

Six passengers and the pilot were on board, officials said. David Nkoroi, the police commander for Samburu, told reporters that all seven people had died but did not reveal their identities. Later on Wednesday, Ecuador's Transport Minister Roberto Luque said the country's intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife, Stephany Hollihan, were among those killed.

"Today Michele and Stephany left us too soon. Thinking of their family, especially their children and parents, Luque wrote on X. Sensi-Contugi, 42, a former businessman, was appointed head of Ecuador's National Intelligence Center in 2024 and was a close associate of right-wing President Daniel Noboa. US broadcaster NBCUniversal said its journalist Jose Alberto Suarez — president and general manager of Telemundo 31, Telemundo 49, and Telemundo Fort Myers–Naples — was also among the dead.

A US State Department spokesperson said five US citizens were killed, adding that the embassy was providing consular assistance. The helicopter, owned by local company Lady Lori Helicopters, was carrying guests with travel company &Beyond. The aircraft, a Eurocopter EC130 B4, crashed in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination.

Tropic Air Kenya dispatched two helicopters to aid search and rescue, while the Kenya Red Cross said its teams were participating in a multiagency response. Three bodies remained trapped in the wreckage as of Wednesday evening, with recovery operations to continue Thursday due to ongoing flames at the site, Kenya's Daily Nation reported. In February, a Kenyan legislator was among six people who died in a helicopter crash in western Kenya.

Helicopter crashes have occurred with increasing regularity in Kenya, which relies on domestic carriers to ferry tourists to distant destinations. "The US Embassy is in touch with local authorities and is providing consular assistance, the State Department spokesperson said. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones on their loss.