On August 19, 2026, a Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopter crashed in Samburu County, Kenya, resulting in the deaths of all seven people on board. The helicopter, registered as 5Y-GYM, was carrying six passengers and one pilot when the accident occurred at approximately 09:13 local time. According to the United States State Department, five of the victims were US citizens.
The helicopter was operated by Lady Lori Helicopters on a charter flight carrying guests of the luxury safari company &Beyond. Operational statements regarding the flight route differed; the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) reported the flight was routing from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area, while Lady Lori Helicopters stated the helicopter was flying from Suyian Conservancy to Ololokwe.
Among the deceased passengers were Michele Sensi-Contugi, the director of Ecuador's National Intelligence Center, and his wife, Stephany Hollihan Vasconez, who was a dual US-Ecuadorian citizen. Another passenger was identified as José Alberto Suárez, a Florida-based senior Telemundo executive. The US Embassy has established contact with local authorities and is providing consular assistance.
The accident took place near Kirish, close to Mount Ololokwe in northern Kenya. The remote and mountainous nature of the terrain complicated the recovery operations of the Kenya Red Cross and other responding agencies. Kenya's Air Accident Investigation Department is leading the official investigation into the cause of the crash.
The EC130 B4 is a seven-seat, single-engine helicopter developed by Eurocopter, which is now part of Airbus Helicopters. This aircraft type is widely utilized for sightseeing and charter flights because of its large cabin, low external noise, and unobstructed views. The crash site near Mount Ololokwe, also known as Ol Donyo Sabache, is situated within Kenya's northern safari circuit.
