Nairobi: All seven people on board, including Ecuador’s national intelligence chief, his wife and five American citizens, died on the spot after a helicopter carrying tourists crashed and caught fire in central Kenya. The horrific accident occurred moments after the helicopter took off from the Loisaba Wildlife Sanctuary in Samburu County, north of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
Intelligence chief and wife dead: 42-year-old Michel Sensi-Contugui, the head of Ecuador’s national intelligence center, and his wife Stephanie died in the tragedy. Michel was a close confidant of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa.
The five Americans who died included Jose Alberto Suarez, a senior manager for Spanish broadcaster Telemundo and NBC Universal. The helicopter was carrying a pilot and six tourists. Officials confirmed that no one survived.
Crash at the foot of Mount Ololokwe: The helicopter crashed at the foot of Mount Ololokwe, a popular hiking destination about 2,000 meters above sea level. The crash sent thick black smoke and flames billowing from the scene.
Rescue operations suspended: Rescue operations have been temporarily suspended due to steep hills, rocks and darkness, and the work of recovering the bodies will continue today.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAID) have launched a high-level investigation into whether the helicopter crash was caused by bad weather or a technical fault.
Air accidents on the rise in Kenya: While helicopter tours are popular for wildlife safaris and mountain ranges in Kenya, accidents have been on the rise in recent times. Last March, six people, including an MP, died in a similar helicopter crash.