On Wednesday morning, a tragic helicopter crash occurred in a remote area of northern Kenya, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals, including a senior intelligence official from Ecuador and his wife. The local police reported the crash, which happened while the helicopter was flying from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority stated that the Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopter crashed at 9:13 a.m. There were six passengers and one pilot on board. Later that day, David Nkoroi, the Samburu police commander, confirmed that all seven aboard had died, though he did not release their identities.

In Ecuador, President Daniel Noboa’s government announced on social media that the deceased included Michele Sensi-Contugi, the director of the National Intelligence Center, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan. The government expressed its condolences to their families and loved ones.

Local Kenyan media reported that the crash site is in rugged terrain near Mount Ololokwe, a popular tourist destination. The helicopter, owned by Lady Lori Helicopters, was carrying guests from the travel company &Beyond. Lady Lori Helicopters issued a statement confirming that the aircraft was operating a charter flight when the crash occurred.

Tropic Air Kenya, a local safari operator, stated that it dispatched two helicopters to assist in the search and rescue operations. The Kenya Red Cross said its emergency response teams were engaged in a multi-agency effort to access the crash site.

Helicopter accidents are becoming more common in Kenya, a country with a vibrant tourism industry reliant on domestic airlines to transport visitors to remote locations like Mount Ololokwe. In February, a helicopter crash in a mountainous region of western Kenya claimed six lives.