Let me walk you through the details of a devastating aviation accident in East Africa. A helicopter carrying seven people on a scenic tourist route has crashed in central Kenya, leaving no survivors.

The disaster took place at approximately 09:13 local time (06:13 GMT) on Wednesday on the slopes of Mount Ololokwe, located in Samburu County. According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the aircraft was operating a scenic flight from a wildlife conservancy in Loisaba towards the Ewaso Nyiro river.

Images from the scene showed smoke rising from the wooded crash site as responders from the Kenya Red Cross made their way towards the burning wreckage. Samburu is widely known for its scenic landscapes and private reserves, making it a popular destination for aerial safari tours.

Among those confirmed dead is 44-year-old Michele Sensi-Contugi, the director of Ecuador's intelligence service, the CIES. The Italian-Ecuadorean businessman was a close ally of Ecuador's President Noboa and had spent four months serving as a cabinet minister before being appointed to lead the intelligence agency.

His wife, 42-year-old fashion designer Stephany Hollihan, also died in the crash. She was the founder of Sensi Studio, a Guayaquil-based brand praised for using traditional Ecuadorean materials. News agency Reuters reports that Hollihan held US citizenship alongside her Ecuadorean ties.

The loss has prompted a formal period of grief in Ecuador. President Noboa has declared three days of national mourning starting on Thursday, while both the president's office and the National Assembly have publicly expressed their condolences.

A US State Department spokesperson confirmed that five of the victims on board were Americans. Among them was NBCUniversal journalist José Alberto Suárez. In a staff memo seen by CBS News, the broadcaster remembered Suárez as "a deeply respected leader and beloved friend and colleague."

Miami restaurateur Roger Duarte was also among the Americans killed. Following the news, US Representative Carlos Antonio Gimenez posted a tribute on X, stating: "Our prayers are with their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. May their memories be a blessing."

The aircraft involved was a Eurocopter EC130 B4 operated by Lady Lori Helicopters. In a released statement, the company said it was "deeply saddened" by the crash, adding: "Our deepest sympathies are with the guests, crew, their families and loved ones, and all those affected by this tragic accident."

As it stands, the identities of the pilot and the remaining passengers have not yet been formally released, and officials have not yet confirmed the exact circumstances that led to the helicopter coming down.

Aviation incidents of this nature are not uncommon in Kenya. A crash in the Rift Valley county of Nandi killed six people, including a member of parliament, in February. Earlier, in 2024, Kenyan military chief General Francis Omondi Ogolla died in a western Kenya helicopter crash that killed nine of the 11 people on board, and ten soldiers were killed in a landing crash near Nairobi in June 2021.

I'll be following this one as official investigation reports emerge from Samburu County — check back for updates.