2026 Mount Ololokwe helicopter crash
_Eurocopter_EC130B4_at_Wagga_Wagga_Airport.jpg) An Eurocopter EC130B4, similar to the aircraft involved | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 August 2026 |
| Summary | Under investigation |
| Site | |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Eurocopter EC130 B4 |
| Operator | Lady Lori Helicopters, operating for &Beyond Safaris |
| Registration | 5Y-GYM |
| Flight origin | Loisaba Conservancy, Kenya |
| Destination | Ewaso Ng'iro, Kenya |
| Occupants | 7 |
| Passengers | 6 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 7 |
| Survivors | 0 |
On 19 August 2026, a Eurocopter EC130 B4 helicopter crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County, central Kenya, killing all seven people on board, included pilot Josh Outram, Ecuadorian intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi Ycaza and his wife Stephany Hollihan Vásconez, and a group of four other American citizens from South Florida.[1][2][3] The helicopter, operated by Lady Lori Helicopters, was carrying passengers on a charter flight from Loisaba Conservancy toward the Ewaso Ng'iro area when it crashed at approximately 9:13 a.m. local time.[4][5]
Among the South Florida victims were José Alberto Suárez, president and general manager of three Telemundo-owned television stations in Florida, Miami restaurateur Roger Edward Duarte,[6][7] real estate executive Adam Hlavaty, and software executive Henry Parra.[8] Five of the seven people killed were American citizens, including Hollihan Vásconez.[4]
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the crash and announced that the Air Accident Investigation Department of Kenya's Ministry of Roads and Transport had begun an investigation.[4] The cause of the crash was not immediately known.[5]
This was the second deadly helicopter crash of this scale in Kenya in 2026, with another fatal helicopter accident in Nandi County in February 2026 having killed six people, including MP Johana Ng'eno.[9][10][11] The February crash had also involved a Eurocopter helicopter.[12]
Flight and crash
The aircraft was a single-engine Eurocopter EC130 B4 operated by Nairobi-based Lady Lori Helicopters.[4] It was carrying guests of luxury travel company &Beyond on a charter flight.[4][5] They had been flying to the Ewaso Ng'iro river.[13]
According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the flight was traveling from Loisaba Conservancy toward the Ewaso Nyiro area when it crashed at 9:13 a.m., local time.[4] The aviation authority and operator described the itinerary of the tourists as taking a flight from Suyian Conservancy to Mount Ololokwe.[8] The crash occurred in rugged terrain in the foothills of Mount Ololokwe, a prominent mountain and tourist destination in northern Kenya.[4] The Kenya Red Cross reported that difficult terrain and a fire at the crash site hampered search and recovery efforts.[5] Tropic Air Kenya dispatched two helicopters to assist the response.[4]
Victims
The pilot, Josh Outram, was a fourth-generation Kenyan and an experienced helicopter pilot, who had worked in both commercial aviation and wildlife conservation. He was the founder and director of African Heli Adventures and had more than 15 years of flying experience in Kenya.[14] He had also participated in aerial conservation work in Kenya.[15]
Michele Sensi-Contugi Ycaza, 44, was born in Desio, Italy, to a family historically from Volterra;[16] Sensi-Contugi's father was Italian and his mother was Ecuadorian.[17] His wife, Stephany Hollihan Vásconez, 42, was an Ecuadorian fashion designer and held both Ecuadorian and American citizenship.[4] She was the founder and creative director of Sensi Studio, a fashion and accessories company based in Guayaquil, whose products were made by Ecuadorian artisans.[18] In response to their deaths, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared three days of national mourning and ordered a state funeral.[19]
José Alberto Suárez, 55, was a Florida-born journalist and television executive who grew up in Coral Gables.[8] At the time of his death, he was president and general manager of three Telemundo-owned television operations serving Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers–Naples.[20] Suárez had more than 25 years of experience in television and had spent 18 years with Telemundo and NBC stations. He had previously headed Telemundo stations in several other markets and had worked as a reporter and anchor in Florida, Ohio, and Texas.[20] During his career he received several television journalism awards, including Lone Star and Suncoast Emmy Awards and Associated Press awards.[20] NBCUniversal News Group chairman Cesar Conde, NBCUniversal Local chairman Valari Staab, and Telemundo Station Group president José Cancela issued a joint statement mourning Suárez, describing his commitment to the stations and communities he served.[20]
Roger E. Duarte, 42, was a Miami-area restaurateur and entrepreneur. He was the founder of seafood company George Stone Crab, co-founded the restaurant chain My Ceviche, and was associated with Hospitality Capital Partners.[8][7] His family described him as a husband and father and issued a statement following his death.[21]
Adam Hlavaty, 42, and Henry Parra, 55, were a married couple.[8][21] Hlavaty was a real estate executive and vice president of development for Benihana. He also served on the board of the Coral Gables Museum.[8] Parra was a software executive and co-founder of Trax USA, an aviation maintenance software company based in Coral Gables.[8] Hlavaty and Parra lived in Coral Gables, and friends described the couple as avid travelers who were active in their community.[21]
Investigation
It was reported that aviation experts from the United States and France would work with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority to investigate the reasons for the crash.[22]
References
- ↑ "Seven people, mostly foreign tourists, killed in helicopter crash in Kenya". Al Jazeera. Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press. 19 August 2026. Archived from the original on 19 August 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ Christabel Adhiambo (19 August 2026). "[PHOTOS] Scenes from deadly Samburu helicopter crash". The Star. Archived from the original on 19 August 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ Malalo, Humphrey; Nzilani, Vincent Mumo; Kannampilly, Ammu; Biryabarema, Elias; Timsina, Nilutpal; Valencia, Alexandra (19 August 2026). "Kenya tourist helicopter crash kills 7, including Americans and Ecuador security chief". Reuters. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Safari helicopter crashes in northern Kenya, killing 7 people, including 5 Americans". Associated Press. 19 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Kenya tourist helicopter crash kills 7, including Americans and Ecuador security chief". Reuters. 19 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ "Safari helicopter crash kills 7 people in Kenya, including 5 Americans". CBS News. 19 August 2026. Archived from the original on 20 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Miami restaurateur and Telemundo exec among victims of Kenya helicopter crash". NBC 6 South Florida. 19 August 2026. Archived from the original on 20 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Maybin, Aaron; Torres, Andrea; Supall, Linnie; Coles, Caroline (19 August 2026). "South Florida friends' trip to Kenya ends in tragedy after helicopter crash". WPLG Local 10. Archived from the original on 20 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ Muthomi, Ken (2 March 2026). "Preliminary Probe Reveals Helicopter That Killed MP Ng'eno Flew Low, Hit Trees Before Crash". Kenyans. Archived from the original on 7 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ↑ "Kenyan lawmaker among 6 dead in helicopter crash". Associated Press. 28 February 2026. Archived from the original on 2 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ↑ Taifa, Valentine (28 February 2026). "Six People Killed as Chopper Crashes in Mosop". The Kenya Times. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ↑ "Accident Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil 5Y-DSB, Saturday 28 February 2026". Aviation Safety Network. 28 February 2026. Archived from the original on 20 August 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ↑ Bigg, Matthew Mpoke (19 August 2026). "5 Americans and Ecuadorean Official Are Killed in Helicopter Crash in Kenya alongside other nationals, including Americans". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ "About Us". African Heli Adventures. Archived from the original on 7 March 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ "Josh Outram, Director of African Heli Adventures, shares more about the unforgettable helicopter tours in Loisaba". Elewana Collection. May 2025. Archived from the original on 20 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ "Schianto in elicottero in Kenya, Michele Sensi Contugi morto con la moglie nel terribile incidente". La Nazione (in Italian). 19 August 2026. Archived from the original on 20 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ Rojas, Gisella (April 2024). "De contribuyente en campaña a ministro: Michele Sensi Contugi ocupa varios roles en el Gobierno". Ecuavisa.
- ↑ Remsen, Nick (11 July 2014). "Sensi Studio's Chic—and Monogrammable!—Beach Accessories: From Ecuador, With Love". Vogue. Archived from the original on 21 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ Espinoza, Giannella (20 August 2026). "Noboa declara tres días de duelo nacional y dispone funeral de Estado por Michele Sensi-Contugi". Diario Expreso (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 20 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "José Suárez, president and GM of Telemundo 31, 49 and Ft. Myers dies in helicopter crash". NBC 6 South Florida. 19 August 2026. Archived from the original on 20 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 Holly, Jessica; Calhoun, Julie; Boulandier, Kevin (19 August 2026). "Coral Gables businessman, Telemundo exec among several Florida residents killed in helicopter crash in northern Kenya". WSVN. Archived from the original on 19 August 2026. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ Rono, Emmanuel (23 August 2026). "Why foreign investigators will be involved in Samburu chopper crash probe". Archived from the original on 24 August 2026. Retrieved 23 August 2026.