The Civil Authority of Kenya communicated this Wednesday that a helicopter carrying seven people, mostly tourists, has crashed near Mount Ololokwe, close to the well-known Samburu National Reserve, in the central region of the African country.
"The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirms that a Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopter, with registration 5Y-GYM, has suffered an air accident on Mount Lolokwe, in Samburu County, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026," it specified in a statement.
The helicopter was on the route between Loisaba and Ewasonyiro when the incident occurred around 9:13 a.m. (local time) in the vicinity of Lolokwe. Kenyan authorities have launched an official investigation to clarify what caused the accident.
"The Civil Aviation Authority is coordinating with the relevant agencies and stakeholders in response to the accident," it indicated, conveying "its deepest condolences to the families of the victims after this tragic incident."
According to a preliminary report from the Police, there were six tourists on board along with the pilot. Rescue and emergency teams have been deployed to the crash site, local media have reported.
Subsequently, sources from the Ecuadorian Presidency have confirmed to the Ecuavisa channel that among the deceased is Michele Sensi-Contugi, director general of the Strategic Intelligence Center (CIES) of Ecuador, as well as his wife, Stephany Hollihan.
The official, 44 years old, held dual Ecuadorian and Italian nationality and was one of the most trusted individuals of the president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa. He had been the general director of CIES since August 2024. The Embassy of Italy in Kenya has provided immediate assistance at the accident site, according to the Italian television network RAI.
Along with the Ecuadorian-Italian couple, there are five victims of American nationality, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the State Department, who expressed their "deepest condolences to the relatives" of the deceased individuals.