The director of Ecuador's National Intelligence Center, Michele Sensi-Contugi, his wife, and five American citizens have died in a helicopter crash in Kenya. The incident occurred near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, in the central part of the country.

Seven people were on board the aircraft – six passengers and the pilot. There were no survivors, Kenyan authorities reported.

The "Eurocopter EC130 B4" helicopter was on a tourist flight from the Loisaba wildlife conservancy to the Ewaso Ng'iro River area. The crash occurred around 9:13 a.m. local time. The causes of the accident have not yet been established.

The Ecuadorian presidential administration confirmed the deaths of Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephanie Holihan, a fashion designer and founder of the "Sensi Studio" brand. The official statement expresses condolences to their families and loved ones.

Among the victims is also Jose Alberto Suarez – president and general manager of the Telemundo television stations in Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers–Naples. The company confirmed his death and described the news as deeply tragic.

Difficult access to the site

The Kenyan Red Cross reported that rescue teams worked in a difficult-to-access and rugged area. The operation was also hampered by a fire at the crash site. Drones were used for an initial assessment of the terrain.

The helicopter was owned by the local company "Lady Lori Helicopters" and was operating a charter flight for guests of the travel agency "&Beyond".

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority is coordinating operations on the ground. The investigation into the incident is being led by the Ministry of Transport and the Air Accident Investigation Department.

Authorities will analyze the technical condition of the machine, weather conditions, the flight plan, and all available data to determine the cause of the tragedy.