Nairobi: Seven people, including five Americans and Ecuador's intelligence head, were killed on Wednesday when the tourist helicopter they were flying in crashed in Kenya's Samburu county.The aircraft was flying to the Loisaba Conservancy, a wildlife reserve and safari destination in northern Kenya, when it crashed, according to a preliminary report from Archers Post police station seen by Reuters.All seven people - six passengers and one pilot - were killed, authorities said.A State Department spokesperson said five Americans were among the dead, while Ecuador's presidential office confirmed intelligence head Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephany Hollihan - who held U.S. citizenship - were also killed."The U.S. Embassy is in touch with local authorities and is providing consular assistance," the State Department said.The preliminary police report listed Sensi-Contugi and his wife as tourists.Luxury tour agency &Beyond, which offered the excursion the tourists were on, said in a statement that the cause of the crash was yet to be determined.The Kenya Red Cross said that search and recovery efforts were being hampered by difficult terrain and a fire at the crash site.
Kenya tourist helicopter crash kills 7, including Americans and Ecuador intel chief
A tourist helicopter crashed in Kenya's Samburu county on Wednesday. Seven people, including five Americans and Ecuador's intelligence chief, died in the incident. The aircraft was en route to the Loisaba Conservancy wildlife reserve when it went down. The U.S. Embassy is providing consular assistance to the families of the deceased. Search and recovery efforts are ongoing despite difficult terrain and a fire.
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