Ecuador intelligence chief among 7 killed in Kenya helicopter crash

Seven people, including Ecuador's intelligence chief and a senior Telemundo executive, were killed when a tourist safari helicopter crashed in northern Kenya's Samburu County.

The helicopter, operated by Lady Lori Helicopters, crashed in a mountainous area near the foothills of Mount Ololokwe on Wednesday morning while carrying guests of travel agency andBeyond from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area.

Kenya police and civil aviation authorities said the Eurocopter EC130 B4 took off at around 9:13am (local time) before crashing during the flight. All seven people aboard were killed, according to Samburu Police Commander David Nkoroi.

Five of the victims were US citizens, the US State Department said. The US Embassy in Kenya is coordinating with local authorities and providing assistance to the victims' families.

One of the American victims was identified as 55-year-old José Suárez, president and general manager of Telemundo's Florida network. NBCUniversal and Telemundo confirmed his death in a joint statement, expressing condolences to his family, colleagues and friends.

Ecuador's government separately confirmed that Michel Censi-Contugi, director of the country's National Intelligence Center and a close aide to President Daniel Noboa, was among those killed. His wife, Stephanie Hollihan, also died in the crash.

Ecuador's presidency expressed condolences to Censi-Contugi's family and loved ones in a statement posted on X.

Lady Lori Helicopters said two helicopters operated by Tropic Air Kenya were deployed to assist with the search and rescue operation following the crash.

Kenya's remote and mountainous regions are popular for safari tourism, with helicopters and small aircraft frequently used to transport visitors. The country has recorded several fatal aviation accidents in such areas, including a crash in February that killed six people, among them a lawmaker.

Source: AP