Kenya suspends search for victims of fatal helicopter crash

Kenyan authorities have suspended the search for victims of a helicopter crash that killed seven people, including Ecuadorian National Intelligence Center director Michelle Sensi-Contugi and his wife, Stephany Hollihan. The operation near Mount Ololokwe was halted because intense fires at the crash site are preventing the recovery of three bodies still trapped in the wreckage.

The helicopter, an Eurocopter EC130 B4, crashed on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 09:13 local time. It was en route to the Loisaba Reserve when it went down near Kirish, in a remote and difficult-to-access area approximately 350 kilometers north of Nairobi. The victims included six tourists and the pilot, Josh Outram.

While the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority is coordinating the response and the Air Accident Investigation Department is leading the probe, the cause of the crash remains undetermined. The U.S. Department of State confirmed that four of the victims were American citizens. The other passengers identified were Roger Duarte, Adam Navaty, Henry Parra, and Suian Suarez.

Authorities have not officially released the nationalities of all passengers, but the confirmation of four Americans adds to the international nature of the tragedy. The investigation is ongoing, with recovery efforts expected to resume once the fires subside.

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We have suspended the recovery because three bodies remain trapped between the debris. The intense fire, which is still burning at the site, is hindering rescue efforts.