Seven people, including five US citizens, were killed when a safari helicopter crashed in a remote area of northern Kenya on Wednesday morning, according to Kenyan authorities and the US State Department.
The helicopter, carrying six passengers and a pilot, crashed at around 9:13 a.m. while travelling from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said an investigation into the crash was underway.
Samburu police commander David Nkoroi later confirmed that all seven people aboard the helicopter had died.
The US State Department confirmed that five of the victims were American citizens and said the US embassy was coordinating with local authorities and providing consular assistance to the victims’ families.
Among those killed was reportedly José Suárez, 55, president and general manager of several Telemundo stations in Florida. NBC Universal and Telemundo expressed shock over his death.
Also killed was Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of Ecuador’s national intelligence centre. Ecuador’s government confirmed his death and said he had been visiting Kenya as a tourist with his wife, Stephany Hollihan Vasconez, who also died. She held both US and Ecuadorian citizenship. The couple are survived by their two children.
The helicopter crashed in a rugged area near the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination. It was operated by local company Lady Lori Helicopters on a charter flight carrying guests travelling with safari company &Beyond.
The aircraft was identified by the aviation authority as a Eurocopter EC130 B4. Local safari operator Tropic Air Kenya said it deployed two helicopters to assist with search and rescue efforts.
The crash has once again raised concerns over helicopter safety in Kenya, where the tourism industry relies heavily on domestic aviation services to transport visitors to remote safari destinations.
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