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The head of Ecuador’s intelligence agency and five American citizens were killed when a tourist helicopter crashed in central Kenya on Wednesday, according to officials. All seven individuals aboard the aircraft lost their lives.

The incident occurred in Samburu County, located north of the capital city Nairobi, as reported by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).

The plane had taken off from the Loisaba wildlife reserve.

Images posted by the Kenya Red Cross on X in the afternoon depicted a crash site engulfed in flames. The organization mentioned that challenging terrain is slowing down rescue efforts.

“There were seven individuals aboard the helicopter, including one pilot and six passengers,” Fredrick Kabunge, director of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID), stated.AFP, indicating that no one had made it through.

Contacted by AFP On Wednesday evening, David Nkoroi, the police chief of Samburu County, stated, “operations have been halted until tomorrow due to the darkness and the challenging terrain at the crash site.”

Ecuador’s Transportation Minister Roberto Luque stated that the head of the Latin American country’s intelligence agency, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife were among the deceased.

“Today Michele and Stephany left us earlier than expected. Considering their family, particularly their children and parents,” Luque wrote on X.

A police report indicates that a rescue official is present at the location of a tourist helicopter crash in Samburu County, Kenya, on August 19, 2026, which resulted in several injuries. Image courtesy of Reuters.

Sensi-Contugi, 42, was a former entrepreneur who took on the role of leading Ecuador’s National Intelligence Center in 2024.

He was a close ally of Ecuador’s right-leaning President Daniel Noboa, who has positioned his nation as a crucial U.S. ally in Washington’s renewed effort to fight drug cartels.

A representative from the U.S. Department of State mentioned that five U.S. citizens lost their lives in the accident, but did not reveal their names.

The Spanish-language network Telemundo later stated that one of its top executives in Florida, Jose Alberto Suarez, perished in the accident.

“We are deeply saddened by the heartbreaking news that Jose died in a helicopter crash in Kenya,” stated a message from Cesar Conde, chairman of the newsgroup at parent company NBCUniversal, along with two other executives.

Jose was a remarkable coworker who showed great concern for his teams, the communities they supported, and the vital function our stations have in people’s lives.

Kabunge stated that “the helicopter was carrying tourists for a sightseeing flight.”

A video posted on X showed black smoke rising into the air at the base of Mount Ololokwe, the site of the crash.

Mount Ololokwe holds significant spiritual importance for the Samburu community, with its peak reaching 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) above sea level, and it draws many hikers. Some companies provide helicopter tours.

The reason for the crash remains undetermined, as KCAA stated that inquiries are currently in progress.

In March, a helicopter accident occurred in western Kenya, resulting in the death of six individuals, among them a member of parliament.