Helicopter in Kenya Crash That Killed 7 Identified as Eurocopter EC130 B4
The aircraft involved in the August 19 crash in Kenya has been identified as a Eurocopter EC130 B4, according to reports.
2 reports on this incident · first at Sep 6, 2026, 2:47 p.m. ET
This report went out within minutes of the first account of it. Early reports are provisional and are frequently revised; where sources disagree, both readings are given.
We last searched for new coverage of this at Sep 6, 2026, 3:11 p.m. ET — checked 2h ago.
Earlier reports
Sep 6, 2026, 2:47 p.m. ETFirst report
Helicopter Crash in Kenya Kills 7, Including 5 Americans and Ecuador's Intelligence Chief
A helicopter crash in Kenya on August 19, 2026, killed all seven people on board, according to a report by jp.ibtimes.com. The Eurocopter EC130 B4 was carrying six passengers and a pilot on a charter flight arranged through luxury safari company &Beyond. The dead included five Americans and Ecuador's national intelligence chief Michele Sensi-Contugi and his wife Stephany Maria Hollihan Vasconez, the report said.
The helicopter, operated by Lady Lori Helicopters, was flying from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area when it crashed at approximately 9:13 a.m. local time. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the investigation would be led by the Air Accident Investigation Department, with coordination across relevant government agencies. Kenya's Ministry of Roads and Transport Air Accident Investigation Department had taken the lead in determining the circumstances of the crash, according to jp.ibtimes.com.
The cause of the crash has not been determined. The investigation is ongoing.
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Reference data
From aircraft and geographic registries, not from the news sources. Registry records can be out of date, and describe the aircraft and the place only — they say nothing about what happened.
- Terrain elevation
- 5,423 ft
- Nearest aerodrome
- 6.6 miles SW of Isiolo Airport (HKIS)
Sources
Revision history
- Version 16 Sept 2026, 18:52current
First published.
- Version 16 Sept 2026, 18:47current
First published.
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