Kenya: Seven people, including five US citizens, were killed when a safari helicopter crashed in a remote area of northern Kenya, according to Kenyan authorities and the US State Department.
The helicopter crashed at around 9:13am while travelling from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said seven people were on board, including six passengers and the pilot. It confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the crash was underway.
Samburu police commander David Nkoroi later confirmed that all seven people on board had died. The victims included José Suárez, a senior executive with Telemundo, and Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of Ecuador’s national intelligence centre. Suárez, 55, was president and general manager of several Telemundo stations in Florida, according to local media reports.
An update on the air accident in Samburu of the operator and souls on board.
Read full statement below: pic.twitter.com/WjiggB3vvo— Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (@CAA_Kenya) August 19, 2026
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.
Ecuador also confirmed the death of Sensi-Contugi. He had been visiting Kenya as a tourist with his wife, Stephany Hollihan Vasconez, who was a US and Ecuadorian citizen and also died in the crash. Their two children survived the couple.
The aircraft, identified by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority as a Eurocopter EC130 B4, was operated by local company Lady Lori Helicopters on a charter flight carrying guests travelling with safari company &Beyond.
The helicopter crashed in a rugged area near the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination in northern Kenya. Local safari operator Tropic Air Kenya said it dispatched two helicopters to assist with search and rescue operations.
The crash highlights continuing concerns over aviation safety in Kenya’s tourism sector, where helicopters and small aircraft are frequently used to transport visitors to remote safari destinations. In February, six people, including a legislator, were killed in another helicopter crash in a hilly area of western Kenya.
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding crash, including the aircraft’s condition, flight operations and weather conditions, as efforts continue to establish the cause of the accident.
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