Seven killed in safari helicopter crash in northern Kenya
A charter helicopter crashed in Samburu County on August 19, killing all seven people aboard, including five US citizens and Ecuador’s intelligence chief.
In short
- A charter helicopter crashed in Samburu County on August 19, killing all seven people aboard, including five US citizens and Ecuador’s intelligence chief.
Seven people were killed when a charter helicopter crashed in a remote area of Samburu County in northern Kenya on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Kenyan authorities said.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority said the Eurocopter EC130 B4 went down at about 9:13 a.m. while flying from Loisaba Conservancy toward the Ewaso Nyiro area. Six passengers and the pilot were aboard, and an investigation into the cause is under way.
The US State Department said five of those killed were US citizens and that its embassy was assisting local authorities. Among the victims was José Alberto Suárez, 55, an executive overseeing several Telemundo television stations in Florida, according to NBCUniversal and Telemundo.
Ecuador’s presidency also confirmed the death of Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of the country’s national intelligence center. His wife, Stephany Hollihan Vasconez, who held US and Ecuadorian citizenship, also died.
The aircraft was owned by Lady Lori Helicopters and was operating a charter flight. Search-and-rescue aircraft were sent to the rugged crash site near Mount Ololokwe. Authorities had not announced a cause as of Wednesday evening.
