Five Americans Among Seven Killed in Tragic Helicopter Crash in Kenya

A helicopter crash in northern Kenya on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, tragically killed all seven people on board, including five American citizens and Ecuador's intelligence chief. The aircraft, a Eurocopter EC130 B4, was on a safari flight from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area in Samburu County when it crashed at approximately 9:13 a.m. local time. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation into the incident.

Among the victims were Michele Sensi-Contugi, Ecuador's director of national intelligence, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan Vasconez, who held dual U.S. and Ecuadorian citizenship. Also confirmed dead was José Suárez, a 55-year-old executive with Telemundo, a U.S.-based Spanish-language network.

The crash site was located in a rugged area in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe. Emergency response teams from the Kenya Red Cross faced challenging conditions due to the difficult terrain and a fire at the crash site. The U.S. State Department has confirmed the deaths of its citizens and is providing consular assistance to their families.