Helicopter Crash in Kenya Claims Seven Lives, Including Ecuadorian Intelligence Official

1 hour ago 0

A helicopter crash in northern Kenya resulted in the deaths of seven people on Wednesday morning. Among the deceased were a senior intelligence official from Ecuador and his wife, according to local police.

The aircraft went down at 9:13 a.m. while on a flight from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County, as stated by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. There were six passengers and a pilot aboard when the crash occurred.

David Nkoroi, Samburu’s police commander, confirmed the fatalities later in the day. However, he did not disclose the identities of the victims. The Ecuadorian government, led by President Daniel Noboa, confirmed that the deceased included the National Intelligence Center’s director, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan. The government expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.

Local media in Kenya reported that the helicopter crashed in a rugged area at the base of Mount Ololokwe, a known tourist attraction. The helicopter, operated by Lady Lori Helicopters, was reportedly on a charter flight for travel company &Beyond.

Lady Lori Helicopters issued a statement acknowledging that the aircraft was conducting a charter flight when the incident happened. Additionally, Tropic Air Kenya, a local safari operator, dispatched two of its helicopters to assist in search and rescue operations.

The aviation authority identified the helicopter model as a Eurocopter EC130 B4. The Kenya Red Cross reported that its emergency response teams were part of a multi-agency effort to access the crash site as rescue operations continued.

Helicopter accidents in Kenya are becoming more frequent, affecting the country’s vibrant tourism industry that relies on domestic carriers to transport tourists to remote locations such as Mount Ololokwe. Earlier this year, six people died in a helicopter crash in a mountainous region of western Kenya.

This article includes contributions from Associated Press journalist Gonzalo Solano in Quito, Ecuador.